Day 28

Sassafras Gap Shelter to Brown Folk Gap Shelter 9.2 Miles.  AT mile 153.1

Card of the day – knight of Cups

Last night was cold, so cold that I put my puffy on at 5am.  That’s like 4 layers.

After making breakfast, the water left in the pot froze!  I might be labouring the point, but then again maybe not.  I tried to get out of my tent but it was to cold to move!  I even had to use my flit and steel to light stove!  Ok now I feel like I’ve laboured this point.

We got out by just before 10, and on the road again we were.  The early part of the day was walking through snow, well at the side any way, and only a little flurry.

The up up was tough again, but the view was worth it!  Flamethrower and Caroline has passed through a few days before and it was snow and cloud, so it just goes to show that you gotta take the views when you can.

As we left the bold it turned really cold, it was probably just that we switched sides on the mountain, it’s amazing how things can change in such a short period of time.  The mud was frozen and slippery underfoot, which was odd.

On the way up yet another hill we were passed by a Scout troop with massive pot and about 60 lb packs.  Seriously that pot must have been 15 ltr and all the poor kids looked like they were about to die!

Any way we got down into the gap and the guys with the stake had just got down there.  They were met by some one who was going to drive them to pick up their cars at the NOC.  They gave us some left over snacks, and I have never seen peoples faces light up so much.  They also gave us beer!  Which is the ultimate trail magic, I’m sure you will agree.  They were only section hiking as one of their group is about to have a baby.  His phone was dead and had not had contact with his partner for a few days so I let him plug into my battery pack.  It was nice to be able to repay them for the beer in a small way.  Fortunately all was good at home.

Jacobs ladder was a thing!  I mean we have hiked some hills by now but this was steep!  We made camp by 6pm, 3 miles short of our target for the day, but honestly I don’t think I could have hiked another step.

Camp was beautiful but again on a slope, which I’m starting to get use to, I find a spot on my sleeping pad that keeps me as vertical as possible and make do. This evening in camp we were joined by Gumbo, a nice young kid who we have seen on and off for a week.  After a hard day, we were all early to bed!