Half Way There – Shake Down Hike (Part 3)
Day Two
Day two started at 6am. But I didn’t get out of the tent until 8am. It dawned still raining, and I was sore. I checked each limb for alarming pain. Luckily-NONE! I started my day with some tent-yoga since it was raining outside. Cat/cow, down dog, pigeon, baby and boat pose. All my tight muscles loosened and my stress for the day ahead disappeared. Time to pack up. After carefully getting everything into my backpack avoiding the mud that was EVERYWHERE, I got dressed and was finally out of the tent to do my chores.
I made my oatmeal with coffee in it and added the sweetened condensed milk that I had to take since there was no powdered whole milk at the Kroger where we did our grocery shopping. It was barely edible, so I decided that breakfast had now shaken OUT of my plans. I did force it down though because ENERGY is NECCESSARY FOR HIKING. Then I cleaned my dishes, filtered water and refilled my dirty water bottle. Finally I took my medicine, brushed my teeth, got my bear canister, and finished packing up.
Muddy Wet Mess=Extra Weight
I looked like I had rolled in a mud puddle. My next set of Frogg Toggs will be in a darker color than tan! A quick stop at the privy because who knows when we will see another, and then we were off. The miles were going to be easy. Four miles to Fresh Ground for lunch at the Fish Hatchery parking lot, and then we would hike three or four more miles. A powerful storm was rolling in during evening, we wanted to be safely tucked in before it started.
By mile three my pack felt like it weighed 100 pounds. At one of our rests when I took my pack off and started poking around, I figured out that some of my wet gear was weighing me down. I decided on the spot that my goal at lunch was to give away that wet gear. I had wet rain coat, wet rain pants, wet balaclava, and a wet hat. All in all, I would lose at least three pounds from my pack if I could give it away.
Fresh Hot Chicken Soup
We arrived at the Leap Frog Cafe with Fresh Ground cooking up a new batch of His AMAZING Chicken Soup. While I waited, I made a cup of hot cocoa and walked around asking if anyone wanted free gear. No takers. I was BUMMED. FREE gear. Who could pass this up? It was new REI rain gear, and new balaclava, and a Merino wool hat. I set all the gear on my chair and said a prayer for a miracle. Then I went and got my delicious soup. Slurping up a healthy portion with at least four ounces of chicken, I knew that Meg-my AT trainer-would be proud of me for keeping up with my protein requirements even on the trail.
Hope of lightening my pack filled my heart, as I sat by the fire eating my apple and cookies . I chatted with some other AT Class of 2025ers. We were all newbies, and we discussed the literal ups and downs of distance hiking. Despite the downsides: exhaustion, blisters, knee pain, rain, cold, and more exhaustion, we will finish the AT in 2025.
Getting Rid of Gear
It was STILL raining, so my new friends were making arrangements for a shuttle back to their cars. Their Foothills Trail out-and-back was ending here. I, on the other hand, was going to continue my hike. So I hopped up and tried to convince people that free gear was what they needed. I finally got a compassionate soul who was NOT hiking to find a good home for my gear. I LEAPED for joy and thanked him profusely! I also got him and Fresh Ground to sign my backpack before I left.
I felt light as a feather as we hiked away from the Leap Frog Cafe. It is amazing how much better hiking feels after removing a few pounds from your pack. The next section of the trail was green and lush. Bright green rhododendrons and mountain laurels that looked similar to the rhododendrons, but more earthy. I wanted to walk through them forever. The river and falls were beside us off and on all afternoon. The rain had warmed up the temperatures, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
East Fork Campsite Bear Hang
We made a decision to camp at the East Fork Campsite, which was beside a creek. Bill checked carefully for widow makers before we set up our tent. Then we tried to make a fire, but it was just too wet. Brainstorming how to make our packs lighter for the next few days, a bear hang seemed to be the solution. We unloaded anything we could survive without, and Bill hung it deep in the woods. Retrieval would happen on our way back. We decided on tortillas and summer sausage for dinner, and then our bear canisters went to their hiding spots.
After creating lighter packs and dinner, the sun was setting. I got out my electronics bag out and blew up my sleeping pad. I pulled my sleeping bag out: dry! That was a pleasant surprise. I put all my warm clothes on. Sometimes I get warm and have to remove layers, but I would rather do that than shiver in my sleep. I then got in my sleeping bag and wrote my journal for the day.
Stormy Night
The storm came in bursts all night, interrupting my sleep. Flashes of lightning, rolling thunder, and pounding rain woke me again at 6am. I had never gotten ready in a torrential downpour, so I thought it would be a bit challenging . What I found was rain is rain. I had to carefully put my sleep system and warm clothes into my backpack while inside the tent like I did the day before. Today, I put my rain gear on in the tent too. I love the rain, so getting out and hiking in it wasn’t as hard as I expected. I decided to eat a protein bar as I walked to start my day. Breakfast on the go: hiker style.
Day Three
Our hike was much easier than the end of the day before, mostly because I was hiking on well-rested legs. I had taken two falls on day one, so I was a bit concerned about falling today on the slippery, muddy rocks. Near misses were plentiful, but I stayed on my feet today. I hiked cautiously. My trekking poles saved me many times. After a few miles, the rain stopped. But the water flowed and flowed down the trails. I wore my water proof socks, so I boldly sloshed through the puddles and flowing water.
We made it to Fresh Ground’s Leap Frog Cafe after five miles of ups and downs. I was starving. He served his famous grilled cheese and more of his AMAZING Chicken Soup. I also had another hot cocoa (I think cocoa is my trail replacement for coffee!). After a lazy rest by the fire, the heated bathrooms 200 yards away were calling me. I wasn’t about to miss washing my hands with soap in a sink and flushing a toilet. It was LOVELY. Finally, we said goodbye to Fresh Ground until we see him in February or March on the AT.
Half-Way to the Finish Line
The hike to White Water Falls was tough. Big, wet, climb down and up. But I kept my feet under me, and the sound of that powerful water was compelling me to keep going. When it was time to cross the giant rock, I was scared. But I grabbed the line and walked across with confidence. Standing on the bridge, I cried. It felt amazing this time. When I had gotten to this point in March, I was in terrible pain. Today, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I was making it. I am getting stronger. My AT hike is in sight! I’ve got this. The water was telling me over and over. You’ve got this.
I was ready to get it our turn around spot 3.8 miles later. It looked like camp sites were available there, so we hiked fast all the way. It was a smooth, wide trail for most of the miles. Such a treat after all the rocky ups and downs we had passed through over the last few days. We couldn’t find a campsite, but Bill had been told we would find a place to camp even if it was up near the road. So off we went in search of a place. The days of rain had caused flooding everywhere, and it wasn’t easy. We also found tons of bear scat in the area. This alarmed me mildly, but we had encountered bears this summer. I knew they weren’t interested in us.
Stealth Camping
After a bit of a search, up in a grove of trees, Bill found a dry spot. My feet were drenched, the water proof socks weren’t water proof. Bill had told me about swamp foot, so after hanging up all my gear and our tent that needed to dry, I sat in my camp chair and removed my shoes and my socks for the first time in 24 hours (or more?). My feet dried out within an hour, and so did our gear. Good thing! Because the sun was setting, it was time for us to set up camp.
We took our tent over to the highest point we could find and set up. There was a very clean port-o-let down in the parking lot, and we hit it before bed. We ate a cold dinner again and settled in for the night. I didn’t sleep well because of some monster trucks racing loudly down the highway late at night. Then after that I heard coyotes yipping. Finally, new campers arrived and made noise setting up camp. At some point, I am sure I slept, but I missed the rain lulling me to sleep for sure.
The alarm went off at 6am, and it was time for us to start back! I felt inexpressible joy because I knew the way back was going to be beautiful. The rest of the End of Days hike was going to be sunny and warmer!
This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!
To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.
Comments 6
First time follower. Enjoying your blog and wishing you guys great success. Reach out to me in Central VA if you need any help. Onward!!!!
Welcome, Ronald! I am so glad you are enjoying the blog! Thank you for the offer of support too.
April I’ve been loving your shakedown blogs! Can’t wait until you get on trail! FG’s awesome food and “wash ya hands!” saved me from the depths of rain-depression more times than I could count. 😂
Thank you, Jess. FG is an inspiration for sure! The countdown is on!
Hey April! Enjoyed reading about your shakedown hike! Good luck out on the trail this year – maybe we will run into eachother out there sometime!
Hi Jenn! I hope we DO run into each other on the trail. Good luck to you ask well.