Day 5 – Sleeping in and a Magical Creek

After yesterday where I didn’t sleep enough, eat enough, and was generally pushing myself too hard for no reason, I slept from around 8pm to about 9am!!!

Besides waking up from time to time with my right glute, hamstring, and IT band aching, I slept really well (again wearing all my layers to stave off the cold), and thankfully the wind was not an issue on the side of the hill I was posted up on.

Waking up at 9am, I noticed most people were already gone, but a few of us had talked about only doing 9 miles today so I didn’t feel a need to rush. I took my time getting dressed, getting water, digging a cat hole, getting packed, and finally enjoying a turmeric tea while stretching on my pad.

After probably an hour of getting ready at my own pace with no one else around, I rehydrated myself some chili and decided to take it to go.

Less than a mile from where we had camped was a beautiful view of the mountains that really added a pep to my step for about 0.1 miles, then I remembered my goal for the day was to take things slow.

I continued on at a slow walk, pausing in the shadows of trees every once in awhile to catch a break from the sun, who seemed to be trying to make up for yesterday with the warm day and no wind.

Eventually I ran into a few hikers who probably started their mornings hours before and were passing me on their way to a campsite 12 miles down the road. Since I was much slower than them and the rest of my campsite compatriots had already gotten a major head start, I ended up hiking totally alone for about 3 hours before finally catching up with Rumbletick and Tipsy Gypsy, who also were taking it slow today.

Then, I saw off in the distance some familiar hikers! We had reached a water source and shelter that was about 1.5 miles before our planned stopping point for the night.

The creek at the shelter was incredible, and I was compelled by my inner manic pixie to take off my hiking layers and sit in the creek in my underwear! It felt SO good, and I spent another hour or two just hanging out by the creek with some fellow hikers, taking in the sun, stretching, and having my late lunch of raspberry coconut chia oats.

What a beautiful day!

I left when a gaggle of dude bros showed up, and made it to the campsite 1.5 miles down the trail where my friends were already set up.

I enjoyed a shrimp fried rice for dinner (homemade again) with our group for the night which included Kitchen Sink, who has walked parts of the AT off and on for several years, worked at hostels seasonally, and is attempting his full NOBO hike this year.

I’m proud of myself for taking today from a slow, lonely morning full of aches and pains to a day full of creek-soaks, sunshine, and 3 full meals! Definitely needed after yesterday’s crazy start.

Finally, I did some “camp chores” aka took my filter and empty bottles down to the creek for a fill-up, washed my extra set of underwear, and soaked my feet some more. Now it’s time for the nightly game of throw-the-rock-over-the-branch-12-ft-off-the-ground to hang our food for the night.

Tomorrow the plan is 12 miles to Cheese Factory!

Grateful for cold creeks, sunscreen, and delicious meals today.