Miles today: 22.3
Total miles: 1363.2
It was somewhat of an adjustment hiking today, getting used to “normal” trail after the comparatively easy trail in the Shenendoahs. All of a sudden, the weather has become quite a bit chillier during the day, only reaching the 50s rather than the 60s as it has been.
Today Delta and I met what may be the most badass and interesting guy I’ve met so far on the trail. His trail name was Free Bird and he’s thru hiked the AT three times. He’s also done the Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail several times each. And also a super tough trail through New Zealand. Oh, and this is all after he retired/quit his career as a professional wind surfer in Hawaii. One might think someone who has spent so much time alone in the woods would be slightly (or maybe mostly) crazy, but he was pretty down to earth and was so humble about all of his accomplishments. He was a nice reminder that you really can make your life into what you want it to be.
Our long day ended with a fun (not) 3000 foot climb up The Priest Mountain. This was our biggest climb since probably Vermont. Luckily the climb wasn’t too steep as it was drawn out over five miles but whew, that last mile and a half was a killer. We got to the shelter at the top of the mountain as daylight was quickly fading. It was freezing so high in elevation–I was very excited to jump into my sleeping bag. Unfortunately I awoke the next morning to discover nice had gotten into my food bag. I’d hung my food bag separately from my pack and when I opened my pack in the morning a mouse friend was right there to greet me! So I had a nice hole in my food bag and had to get rid of a mouse in my pack (he’d brought peanuts into my pack–didn’t even eat them all, what a shame). Oh well, such is life. This was the first time a mouse had gotten into my food so I suppose I’m lucky. Oh! But I forgot to write that in the shenendoahs I accidentally left my phone and headphones out of my bag beside my head one night and a mouse chewed through my headphones! Ugh. I think I was more disturbed by the fact a mouse was so near my head than I was they ruined my headphones.