Plugging Away At Those Miles (ECT Day 126)

• Hiked Today: 27.1 miles
  • Appalachian Trail (646 – 673.1)
• Total Hiked: 2,608 miles
• Total Paddled: 99.5 miles

Weather 55 – 70°F, started sunny, then overcast for a good portion of the day, then mostly cloudy, then sunny at the end of the day

Elevation: 1,536 – 3,917 feet

West Virginia Border Campsite to Johns Creek Mountain 

It was strange for me being camped so closely to other tents. That just hasn’t been the case in a while. In such scenarios, I usually feel some uncomfortableness with how much noise I’m making while packing up early . This time though, it sounded like Half Iron and Pie Top had beat me to it, moving around already at 5:30 am. I waited the ten minutes for my alarm to go off before starting to pack up myself.

The early hike was a bit chillier than it’s been in a while and I wished I hadn’t buried my smittens (sock mittens) at the bottom of my pack. Instead, I just suffered and occasionally warmed my fingers up by sticking my hands down my pants haha. Crude, but effective.

Continuing on the ridge, looking out to my left and to my right was an open expanse; a sea of clouds. It might’ve been my best example of ridges and mountain tops sticking up like islands if it weren’t for the fact that I never got a clear view. The foliage is so dense now. I could’ve used one of those viewpoints from yesterday. Oh wait… here’s one now (the cloud sea had mostly burned away by this time though)….

I bumped into the early starters around 8:30 am. We chatted and I continued on expecting them to leap frog me at second breaky break. Once a little out of earshot of their conversation and back to hearing just the birds, it happened… my first confirmed black bear sighting on the ECT!

It was a little one and I’d startled it, so it was instantly running away. Quickly it vanished into the green brush and down the hill, but even in the brief moment I could tell it was beautiful. The black fur almost seemed to shimmer, although it’s hard to say in about a one second observation. Maybe it was my mind embellishing and adding to the glory of the experience. Either way, it was cool.

The morning had been pretty mellow in terms of elevation gain and loss… Pretty smooth trail generally. A little before 9:00 am however, it decided to go straight up. I took it slow and then had my mid-morning break at the top where some tents spots had been cleared. The father-son team passed as I was packing up and so did Free Will and Pack Runner, the super hiking couple I met north of the Nantahala Outdoor Center. I bumped into them at Uncle Johnny’s too and having hiked the AT a few times, they always give me solid insight into what’s coming up!

I feel the need to share again about how much I love my break routine. I always seem to leave it ready to pump out some miles, which I’m sure is probably the coffee talking. But it’s just been a nice way to break up the day too. This particular time I’d gotten chilled though. While sitting I layered up and even starting hiking again with my rain pants and fleece on

That didn’t last very long despite that I’d gotten most of the steep uphill done. The next portion was gradual up to the junction with the Allegheny Trail.

Then, it was down for about 3 miles and after that generally “flat” for another 2 miles walking parallel to Stony Creek. There were a few random small steep parts hiding in there too. I hate when they sneak up on my like that 

After crossing the creek on a nice bridge, I shot up again. Odd, right? Who would’ve thought? I was looking for my lunch break spot, but didn’t see any great flat spots to sit, so I ended up finishing the 1,000 feet climb and settling for a not so great spot next to a small trickle of water. I say not so great just because I was half on trail and on a bit of a slant. It worked though.

A half hour or so after lunch, I took my worst tumble yet on the ECT. I was actually paying attention fairly good, but was moving quickly through the rocks and that’s never a great strategy. So, I tripped and was heading head first for a large diameter tree right along the trail. I sort of grabbed it with my outstretched hands as I turned sideways to try and let my pack take the brunt of the fall. It sounds graceful, but it wasn’t. It felt sort of slow motion and clunky actually.

Afterwards I sat and processed that everything seemed in order and there was only slight pain where I scraped my leg. Nothing major! Then, I snapped the photo below haha (got to document), unbuckled, got up, brushed off, re-buckled, and hit the trail again.

The next couple hours were a bit of a trudge. I felt tired… the sleepy kind of tired, not as much the physical body kind of tired. But I just kept moving, one foot in front of the other, which brought me to Wind Rock. What a view!

The stellar view reinvigorated me some and also seemed like the decent started afterwards, so I made pretty good time going forward.

I think it was about 5:00 pm when I was making my way out to a gravel road crossing. I could see a red truck parked nearby and some folks sitting in chairs around it. Then, I hear “Stevie Wonder!… Trail Magic!… Pizza!”

What!? That’s what I’m always craving. Could it be true there was somehow pizza right on trail? Sure enough, my man Ed had a solo stove individual pizza oven going. It was Free Will that had called me over and his wife Pack Runner was there too as well as White Snake, who I hadn’t met untill now.

Wow, what an unexpected pick me up. I stayed for probably an hour and trail angel Ed cheffed up two pepperoni and green pepper pizzas for me haha. He had this honey glaze sauce which was spectacular as well. I felt spoiled. I guess his wife hiked the trail in a previous year and he followed along when he could. They were both so appreciative of the trail magic they’d received that he’s out here now somewhat regularly sounds like. So kind and so fun hanging for a bit.

Two other hikers joined while I was sitting, Steven from Virginia and School Bus from Quebec (although I think she’s been living in one of these southern states for 25 years now). I followed School Bus out a little after 6:00 pm and we both planned to hike up the mountain before calling it a day… about 1,700 feet of gain.

It was gorgeous hiking up in the evening light. The climb was steep though and I took it steady and slow-ish, feeling the days miles. At the top, I found Free Will and Pack Runner already set up. I looked to see if there was something a little away from them, but not so much. So another night being quite close to another tent. I was happy to have made some big miles today and was beat.

If you’ve been enjoying following along, and also want to help kids get access to the outdoors, please consider supporting Outdoors Empowerment Network! I added the “Tip Author” button below that will directly link to my fundraising page. My goal is to raise $2 for every mile I hike on the ECT, so around $12,000. I’m amazed at how much we’ve already raised for this great cause. Y’all are truly amazing. Thank you!!!

Album of the Day:

“August Rush: Music From the Motion Picture” (2007) – Various Artists

Podcast of the Day:

“Michael Pollan” – Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard (July 8, 2021)