Day 38
Start: Jerry Cabin Shelter
End: Random Campsite
Miles Hiked: ~12.3
Miles on AT: ~314.3
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This morning started pretty slowly. Janitor was pooped from yesterday’s long hike, plus we were disturbed by constant coughing all night. When the other hikers woke up early in the morning, they weren’t quiet, causing us to forgo our last few moments of sleep.
We took the morning slowly and started around 10:15 am. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, just sunshine. We reached a bald after Big Butt Mountain and sat for a while, enjoying the view of Tennessee down below. We continued our descent, but Janit or’s knee started hurting, so we had to go very slowly. It was a slog for me. I was able to stay patient for a long time, but I could feel it wearing on me.
Down we went, step after agonizing step. After a while I couldn’t think anymore, I could only do. My day was briefly lit up by the sighting of a Pink Lady Slipper, my only one of the day. Eventually we made it to a road around 4 pm and I had to have my dinner then because I knew a snack bar wouldn’t do enough to raise my blood sugar. And like I said, my patience is wearing thin. I was still a bit hungry after my early dinner, but I could make it the rest of the way without being too grumpy.
We had one more climb and 4 miles to our campsite. We were originally supposed to do about 15 miles total today, but we scaled it back to about 13. We had to collect and carry water about 2.5 miles up the mountain since our campsite didn’t have a water source. Adding the extra weight of the water broke me.
I couldn’t walk slowly anymore. I had to go at my own pace and have Janitor meet me at our agreed-upon rendezvous point. I stopped and waited a couple of times for him to make sure we were still good to go. About a mile before our planned stop, he was ready to throw in the towel. Luckily our stop ended up being the perfect camping spot, with a view of the sunset to the west and a view of the sunrise to the east.
I took a shot at making a fire and it actually turned out really well. Tending to the fire and keeping it alive was our evening entertainment. The direction of the wind was perfect as it kept the smoke out of our faces. Warmed by the fire, we watched the sun set and then headed into our tent for a well-earned night’s rest.
And that’s day 38.
A version of this post originally appeared on TheTrek.co.