GG and I are up early. The bunkroom was very quiet last night, and the bed was nice and comfy and warm, and I slept quite soundly. We have little to pack this morning, and only need to eat some breakfast before we head out. I quietly heat some water for coffee and oatmeal before we slip out into the cold dawn. Timex is awake but Recall is still sleeping.
Chickens are scratching in the frozen ground in front of the bunk building. The alpacas are standing and laying near the fence, nonplussed by our departure as we walk down the long drive to Route 11. GG is in front of me and I watch her turn right on 11. Which is the wrong way. I can't holler because I don't want to wake up anyone, but as I near the road I whistle, which gets her attention. I point exaggeratedly in the opposite direction, and she consults her phone then does a 180.
We rejoin the AT in front of the gas station and turn to the west to go under I-81. We meander through some woods where I scare a lot of whitetail deer enjoying their breakfast. We walk through a meadow crunchy with frost, after which we must climb over a fence on wooden stile, which is about 6 feet tall. I wait for GG, because she is a lot shorter than me and she may need help. She tosses me her poles and ends up taking off her pack and passing it to me before she can cross over the fence. We have a laugh about the clumsiness of climbing a wooden ladder with a pack on.
We end up doing this quite a bit today: woods, then meadow, then fence crossing, all the while gaining a little altitude each time. I think we crossed over 7 stiles, seeming to subsequently getting taller with each crossing. The first couple times was a fun novelty, but now it's rather annoying.
At least the meadows also get more and more scenic. The views are gorgeous, and the temperature is still chilly, but warms enough that I am comfortable in my new alpaca sweater over my base layer. These are working pastures and private property. Cows dot the countryside and munch on the greening spring grass.
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Timex caught up with us today as we reached the 1/4 way mark at mile 551. We hiked with him off and on the rest of the day. He is planning on stopping at Bear Garden Hostel, where we are also planning on staying. We all stopped together for a nice lunch and water filtering next to a stream in the woods.
We get to Route 610 and turn right for the hostel. We arrive at the cluster of small red buildings by mid-afternoon, and we are greeted by Birdie, who pulls up on her Kubota cart with a bucket of treats to restock the hostel. She shows us around and goes over house rules, and apologizes that the bathhouse is out of order for the day while they prepare for thru-hiker season, but we are welcome to shower at her house if we like. GG and I jump on the opportunity, and we take a quick ride up the long driveway to their beautiful cabin with an amazing view of the valley on the other side of the ridge.
We take turns showering and then Birdie shows us around her cabin, which they built themselves and just recently finished. She is a fellow nurse now retired and they run the hostel in season. We explain we are section hiking, and she states she is a MYTH, or Multi-Year Thru hiker. I love the acronym, and will definitely use it to describe our hike from now on.
Upon our return to the bunkhouse, we nest in our respective bunks. The mattresses were extremely firm, which is fine for the youngsters but it aches my old bones. There are only the three of us for now, and Birdie recommends doubling up on the mattress for comfort. GG and Timex do this, but I elect to blow up my camp pad and sleep on that tonight.
There is wi-fi but I can't keep my eyes open to watch anything, so I call home via wi-fi to check in, and I'm out by 8 pm.
Today's Stats: 11 miles, 2267 feet climb, 2100 descent
Trail Stats: 558 miles, 137K feet ascent
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