AZT Map Miles 696.2
Miles Hiked 685.9
Elevation 5,200 feet
Miles Hiked Today 15.3
I’m going to begin this entry with the end of the day and go backwards. It was 4:30 and would be getting dark soon, so I was on the hunt for a campsite. There were some good flat spots and they were out of a persistent wind that began in the afternoon. Unfortunately, cows seem to enjoy defiling good campsites by distributing cow manure all over them. These were no exceptions.
Just a little further down the trail was a gate, which meant no cows. So, I decided to see what I could find on the other side of the gate. Jackpot! Not only was there an established campsite just outside the gate, but there was also trail magic. A cooler had all kinds of things like beer, fruit, cookies, toiletries, etc. I grabbed a beer, Oreos and a banana. It had been a gloomy afternoon, which darkened my mood, but this sure brightened my day.
My hiking day began at 7 AM. Although the trail didn’t look difficult, the total elevation gain for the day was over 2,000 feet. Ugh! My target for the day was 15 miles, and I wondered if I could hit it. As it turns out, I did do 15 miles. And tonight I’ll sleep like a baby thanks to the trail.
