This is the shelter we are staying at tonight: Pine Swamp Brook. Pretty nice lean-to. We did 10.4 miles today, up and down, up and down, up up up and down. My legs are really tired. We ate Clif bars for breakfast (peanut toffee buzz is yummy, and has caffeine) so we could get and early start. We had protein bars for lunch, which we ate in record speed because we were so hungry, then both felt like we were going to barf, so we ate some ginger. No more protein bars for awhile... we met up with our trail friend Tippy Toes who is slow (our speed) now because her dad is hiking CT with her. She shared some tips about hitch hiking and we gave her some homemade fruit leather. Motivation for hiking today was my desire for a shower and a grilled cheese. We will be in Falls Village, CT tomorrow to pick up our mail drop of food. We also have a "bounce box" waiting for us there. It has some resupply items and things we will want while in a town (ex. phone chargers, laundry detergent, COTTON clothes to wear while we do laundry, toilet paper and toothpaste).
Also, here are some terms commonly used on the AT:
- north-bounder or NOBO = hikers from GA to ME
- south-bounder or SOBO = hikers from ME to GA (less common than NOBOs)
- growing a tail = pooping
- to camel up = drink as much water as you can when you are near a water source because it is far to the next water source, or so you dont have to carry as much water while hiking
- backpacker midnight = 8pm
- yellow blazing = traveling in a car, following the "yellow blazes" on the road, instead of the white blazes that mark the AT
Welp, it is "backpackers midnight" so even though its still light out, I'm off to bed. Chad has been sleeping for an hour already.
So if you are going to bed at hiker's midnight (8pm), then what time you typically wake up in the morning? I would assume super early to get a lot of ground covered while the sun is also getting up.
ReplyDeleteAlso, why did you guys feel sick after the protein bar? Was it just too heavy of a food in your stomach after not really having that much food or was it bc it was a lot of protein at once? I wonder.
I love following your blog Val. I am so impressed that you are doing this hike. You Go Girl!
ReplyDeleteAunt Jo Ann
So I missed a couple days....back to that "blue wood"...Ellen had quite the sophisticated explanation...my answer : probably from a picnic table splintered to bits by a bear.............side with whichever you want. (HB to Nick B)
ReplyDeleteWe wake up between 5&7am.
ReplyDelete