Day 149 – Slippery When Wet

I woke up a little after sunrise around 7:00 something. It’s been nice being able to have the sun be my alarm clock. I wonder if that will continue when I get home (wishful thinking perhaps). I felt like I slept well. The usual breakfast was had in addition to the Monster energy drink I packed out.

The morning was marked by a steep downhill, then steep uphill, then down and then back up again in a W shape of ups and downs hiking. The majority of the climbing happened during this first part of the day. Quickly thereafter my energy levels started to fade again. Snacks and candy were only mildly helpful.

Hot Feet did remark how we all felt pretty sleepy mid-day. Maybe it was the weather? It was cloudy all day with a light drizzle, barely enough to notice on your clothes, but enough to dampen every surface of the trail.

It made an otherwise not too difficult terrain,  a chore to manage. I don’t think anyone managed to keep dry feet or from falling at least once. I fell twice myself today. There were a lot of exposed rock faces, and when wet and steep they can be difficult to gain any traction to traverse down. Going up is not quite as bad.

We stopped in at a shelter 4 miles from our final campsite. Hot Feet, Zigzag, Straightedge, and I all felt tired still. But the rest of the miles for the day were not too bad. We had a river to cross to get to our campsite. My shoes were already wet.  After a half-hearted attempt to rock hop across the river failed, I trudged the rest of the way through the river in my shoes.

We set up our tents in the rain and I collected water from the stream while cold soaking my feet and washing dirt off my legs. Once in my tent, I changed into warm clothes (leggings, socks, and a base layer). There was a large group of at least seven tents set up at this site, everyone in their individual tents as it was raining. I played “All by Myself” by Eric Carmen on my phone, it got a few chuckles.

All in all, today was not the best. I’d score it a 4/10. No views, feeling fatigued, rain, falls, and wet feet. There’s supposed to rain more tomorrow as well. Silver lining is that it should be a short and cruise-y 13 miles day into Rangeley, ME for another hostel stay and resupply.

Until then, stow away in my pack for day 150 on the Appalachian Trail