I forgot to turn off the alarm on my watch, so I was up bright and early at 5:40 am. After ten minutes of laying in the hammock I just got up.
I didn't mention this yesterday, but when I tried to filter water last night, the filter was barely dripping drops of water at a time, even when I squeezed the water bag more than is prudent. I try it again this morning and same thing. The filter is a Katadyn Be Free, which doesn't need backflushing like the Sawyer. I used this all of last year and was very impressed with the flow, but to have this occur at any time would be in the catastrophic gear failure category. One shouldn't hike in the wilderness with unclean water. I could go rogue and drink water without treatment, but that's not an option in my book. Too many people get sick from protozoa out here. Giardiasis is pretty common with un- or mistreated water.
Ah well, this is exactly the reason why I did a short shakedown hike this week. At least I have a full fuel canister. I will have to boil my water and hope I have enough fuel to last until tomorrow, when I will have to come up with a plan if I want to keep hiking. I fill my cook pot from the small, piped spring next to my campsite. A round cement sink is under the pipe, catching the very clear water in a foot wide and deep depression. A salamander is swimming in the sink. This is why I need to filter my water!
The rain has cleared, and I can see some blue in the sky when the sun starts to rise. I pack up while my boiled water is cooling enough to pour it into my water bladder. The temp is a comfortable 58F, and slightly muggy from the rain last night.
I hike back onto the AT and turn to the north. The incline here is short, and the trail cuts a path through a grassy field, which extends onto the next ridge. The views are limited because this ridge isn't very high, but the surrounding hills are pretty, nonetheless.
Two thru-hikers come up behind me while I am taking a picture. We exchange pleasantries for a minute. They started mid-February and are doing 20-mile minimum days. They stayed at the shelter I considered staying at last night.
They are eager to get to Reid's Gap tomorrow, where they are going to hitchhike to Devil's Backbone Brewery. The brewery is hiker friendly and even has a camping area for the hikers to stay when they come in for food and entertainment. We hike together for 10 or so minutes, but I say goodbye and happy trails when the trail starts up an incline. There is no way I'm going to even try to keep up with trail-seasoned thru hikers!
The trail runs through a couple boulder fields but overall is very pleasant to hike.
I hiked five miles when I hike into a wide flattish area in the woods crisscrossed with several streams, which are actually two branches of the North Fork of Piney River. This is a perfect spot to stop and boil some water while I eat my lunch. I set the boiling pot of water in a shallow part of the cold water to cool off fast while I eat a salmon, mayo, and relish wrap. This boiling water thing takes a lot of time, and after 45 minutes, I am off again.
The trail rolls up over ridges and down again, which I like much more than climbing up one huge mountain. After leaving the river, I hike up a hill and pass the Seeley-Woodworth shelter. It's close to the trail, but I don't take the time to stop and explore the site because I am less than half done with my mileage today, and I still have a lot of elevation to gain.
At a saddle on the next ridge, a side trail cuts off to some campsites. I don't investigate, and later I realized that was the blue trail for Spy Rock; an open rocky promontory with purported amazing 360-degree views. I am so sad I missed it, as this is a hike many people drive here for.
I realize my mistake as I stop and perch on a rock for a blue electrolyte and chia shake. I take a picture of the backside of the mountain as a consolation. I am tuckered out; I have hiked 12 miles and climbed 2400 feet so far, but I still have about two hours to get to the next shelter, so I keep moving.
I have been conserving my water consumption, and the heat and the exertion combined with water conservation are taking a toll on me. My heart rate is soaring on this last push up Priest Mountain, and I must stop and take frequent breaks to suck in air and get my heart rate down. I'm not worried about my physical ability, as this is part of the conditioning process that I have to deal with any time I have been off trail for a period of time.
I make slow progress, but I finally arrive at the shelter at 5:30pm. There are four people sitting at the table, and I recognize one of them as a thru-hiker I talked to this morning. A woman is asking if they need to make room in the shelter for me, and I report that I prefer to camp. She seems relieved, and I see there are already five or six beds made on the floor of the shelter.
I set up my camp in a clearing a distance from the shelter so I can get up early without disturbing anyone. The wind is kicking up on this mountain, so I pitch the tarp fairly low to the ground before I fill my dirty water bag from the nearby stream. I gather my food and stove and go to sit at the picnic table in front of the shelter.
I am talking to a woman at the picnic table. Several of the shelter occupants are already sleeping, even though it's only 6:30pm, so I try to keep my voice low. I explain that I am super thirsty and must boil my water because my filter isn't working. She immediately offered the use of her filter, and I filter two liters of water and then refill her dirty bag from the stream before tucking into my dinner; Three Sisters Stew with squash, beans, and rice by Backpacker's Pantry.
I am chowing down when a woman sits down across from me. Her name is Carrot, and she started from Troutdale April 10. She plans on flip-flopping. I ask about her trail name, assuming she must really like carrots, but she explains she contracted Norovirus shortly after starting and all she threw up were carrots. Thankfully I finished my dinner right before her explanation.
We say goodnight and I retire to my hammock, where I wipe down with 3 drops of castille soap on a small square of camp towel I cut off a larger towel. I dress in my woolies for bed, and I am out by 8:30pm.
Today's Stats: 15 Miles, 3240 feet ascent, 2982 feet descent
Trail Stats: 830 Miles, 189K ascent, 192K descent
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