A very looong day for me. Started out bitter sweet because we dropped our hiking buddy Sam at Dick's Gap where there was a huge trail angel effort underway. A couple who's daughter was hiking thru set up a massive spread to give back. Ham, eggs, sausage and pancakes. We gorged ourselves an had to say goodbye to Sam here as he was then heading into town for a couple zero days. Happy Trails.
We, however had to immediately assault Tray mountain on gorged stomachs. Took us all day to feel trail hungry again, but damn it was scrumptious, would I do it again? In a second!
This and my feet about cooked me today. Had to switch into Dan's new shoes and he took mine as we are luckily the same foot size. This saved the bottoms of my feet from getting worse which got me through a needed day of blister recoup, however with now no ankle support and my tendons having been torqued rom walking abnormal on prior days, it all added up to looong and swollen.
Ran into a guy in his upper 20s today who appeared to be tremendously fit carrying a 50lb something pack. Got to talking as we leap frogged ea other up the passes.
Turns out he grew up in Reading and now lives in Sardinia, played on several of our high school fields, etc, small world.
Marine core vet, long range sniper. Had to do things most of us never give a thought to as we go through life. Used to carry a 100 lb pack with ammo and two long range rifles aboard. He is hiking stealth like us out here clearing his head of the demons which he said go with what he had to do. Baha is his trail name headed to Maine. Many out here with stories to tell and some that never will, they just need to walk and let the trail do the talking.
Funnies: Dan gave up his beloved Big Agnes today. Offered it up at Dicks Gap to a trail shuttle guy and he jumped on it said he will put it in a creek or barrel of water to find the hole and see if he can't patch it up. Looks like Big A may have a future weighting down someone else's pack.
17miles
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| huge outpouring of generosity being shown for hikers at Dicks Gap. This couple are doing flap jacks, salted ham, sausage, and eggs. There we some 20 hikers savoring every bite when we plodded in to do the same. |
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| Lots of mutual generosity shown on the trail |
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| Beautiful sunrise through the fog hanging on the range |
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| water hydrant mountain style. A laurel leaf put into a water seep to make a spicket |
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| our style of stealth setup. Dan's tent on left and my hammock with rainfly in place on right |
