Today we were river walkers. We broke down our tents in the rain this morning and began our walk along the once muddy path which had now turned into an inch deep stream. Hopping from side to side and rock to rock, we made our way back to the trail to begin another day on the AT. We had now been on the trail for a whole week and it still did not feel real. We huffed and puffed our way up the PUDS of the day as it rained. Today we had gone full hazmat suit in our frogg togg rain suits. Kyle, Kory, and I all had blue and Danny had been referring to us as the blue man group. I personally liked smurfs better but either one made us chuckle. Today my knee had developed a twinge on the outside... Not. Good. By the end of the day I was hurting with every step. We were at Bly Gap for the night which had campsites and water. Rain pitter pattered on the top of our tent as we prepared our food in the vestibules of our tents. I talked to Danny as I heated up my water when all of the sudden flames bursted from my pot. I panicked first trying to unzip the rain fly, then trying to turn out the flame but accidentally turned. After a few seconds of terror, I managed to turn the handle the right way and the flame went out. Thankfully no damage to our tent was done. The cook set on the other hand did not fair as well.
I had forgotten to take the plastic cup from the bottom of the pot. Plastic dripped everywhere as I hurriedly removed the cup and surveyed the damage. The pocket rocket had plastic melted all over it and the gas no longer came out. Thank god we were both carrying stoves. Then as if the mountain gods had been waiting for this moment, Danny’s jetboil would not light. Kyle and Kory offered their pot and finally we had our dinner. I had decided to be quick and easy and went with oatmeal and a pop tart. I was fed up with the night and wanted to hang the bear bag and go to sleep. Ohhhhh the bear bag. We had already thrown rocks over our desired trees and I began to hoist the bag up the tree when the entire branch cracked and came crashing to the ground nearly hitting me in the head. This is not my night. Danny was still in the tent and yelled to see if I’m ok. Thankfully the branch did not hit me and and I was not planning to ask him to throw my bag for me. I started to walk around trying to find a more sturdy branch when I laid my eyes on a lower but sturdy branch. I got the bag over on the second try. Proud of myself, I returned to the tent and immediately slipped in the mud. Today needed to be over.
“That’s it I’m done I’m not leaving the tent until tomorrow morning” Danny just looked at me and continued to eat his 1800 calorie dinner. Ah well, it could not get much worse than this could it? Then Danny informed me that it was supposed to thunderstorm at 8 am. It was as if North Carolina was screaming WELCOME! WE ARE SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE! Oh... did I mention we crossed the border to North Carolina? I guess that was the good thing to come out of today
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