Day 16

Plum Orchard Gap Shelter to Muskrat Creek Shelter 7.3 miles – AT mile 81.2

Card of the day – 4 of Disks

Wow, it was cold last night!  We’re talking below zero again.  We probably have another few weeks of this and it could extend right through April.

Following the wasp attack, a number of other hikers turned up at the shelter and checked for a nest; they found the shelter to be clear but did see one or two of the little buggers!  As it was clear, a few of them chose to sleep in there, and as usual the fire was lit at the front in the fire ring.  At about 5:00 p.m., there having been no further squeals of pain, I headed over to cook dinner.

It was another cold night, so most people were in bed by 7:00 p.m.  The cold night was followed by a really cold morning, which always makes for a slow start.

The topic of conversation around the fire has been the next day’s hike with lots of elevation gain and loss.  The chit chat was not wrong!  It was probably the single hardest day’s hike.

The state line!

Welcome to NC! I didn’t really think I would be all that bothered by state lines; after all they don’t really mean much to me, but the excitement is infectious, and it really is a milestone! I have successfully hiked all the AT in Georgia!  Onwards then to North Carolina!  A trail ambassador haw warned us earlier in the day that a massive hill welcomes you to NC! Well, they were not wrong.  Almost straight up for the first half with the help of steps and then someone finally remembers that switch backs are a thing and they kick in, but they may as well be stairs!

Man, it was slow going! But we got there!

On the good side, I actually feel good!  Cold windswept, but good!  My body is not hurting, my feet (other than my sting, did I mention that yet?) are good, my knees holding up, and I’ve not needed any ibuprofen in the evenings.

The only real downside today, actually, were the steep drop offs!  I don’t do well with height and some of the drop offs today were too close for comfort!  Oh well, don’t look down!

This evening’s camp spot is truly lovely, with a decent privy but, as it’s name suggests, the water source is a creek, which I’m not totally comfortable with.  It tastes ok though.  It’s windy (think that little piggy with their house blowing down kinda windy) and cold with the expectation of rain.