Date: 2015-05-19
From: Jenny Knob Shelter

To: Butt Hollow Stealth Camp
Miles today: 13.4
Weather: broken clouds

Today was definitely not boring! We knew it was going to be a low mileage day, plus the weather forecast said the chance of rain would decrease significantly after 7 am. So, we decided to shoot for 8 am as our target departure time, which is an hour later than normal. I got up at 6:30 but instead of doing my in-tent routine (getting dressed, putting not-needed clothes in stuff sack, stuffing sleeping bag, rolling up and bagging air mattress), I just put on my rain suit pants and kept my sleep shirt and hung everything else out to dry or air out. I got the food bags from the tree (unassisted this time, hallelujah) and had a leisurely breakfast of crackers and peanut butter/hazelnut chocolate spread, and tea of course.The Texas hiking family, currently ten people strong (normally there are seven but some of the older college aged kids are visiting) were already on their way out. They definitely have the routine down and normally they hike high mileage too. This week they are easing the visitors into the hiking, so no twenty mile days. Mind you, the youngest kids are eight and nine I think, and they are loving it.I did leave at 8:05. I tried to postpone putting on my wet clothes as long as possible but at some point there was nothing for it. It was wet and gross and depressing and everything unlovely. Pretty much as expected. Aside from a short but steep uphill early on, the hiking was going to be easy until the side trail for Dismal Falls, where we were going to meet for lunch. Except I had forgotten about the road crossing a couple of miles before the falls, where a .5 road walk would lead you to Trent's Grocery, a gas station cum convenience store cum fishing outfitter. Fortunately Yoda caught up to me before the road and also before the cool suspension bridge over Kimberling Creek. Yay for pictures!We walked to the store and decided to indulge in chocolate milk before anything else. A lot of hikers crave it and I decided to try it. It was fine but I think I'll go back to orange juice as my 'first I need a' drink of choice. As we were enjoying the chocolate milk, more hikers arrived and we all compared notes on where we were going for the day.After buying more junk to enjoy at the falls (coke, chips and a banana!), we walked back to the trail and hiked the two miles to the very unjustly named Dismal Falls. It was a lovely area with places to sit, or swim, or just put your feet in (my preferred option). It had been overcast most of the morning but right around when Yoda caught up to me the sun came out and blue skies won out.We hung around for a couple of hours, just relaxing and soaking our feet and checking out the antics of the Texas family kids, but around three decided to hike on for a couple more hours. Last night, the shelter area was quite crowded and noisy, so we wanted to stealth camp again. Fortunately there were a lot of water sources available this afternoon, so it was just a matter of finding a spot that could accommodate my tent and Yoda's hammock. Our final distance was only 13.something miles. And tomorrow will be even shorter, as we go about ten miles and then stay at Woods Hole Hostel. It is one of the 'must go' places on the trail and sounds very appealing. We have reservations for a shared room (Max 4 to a room and proper beds, no bunks) and it looks lovely.Our stealth camp is close to the stream and I took the opportunity for a sponge bath. As Yoda said 'I almost feel human'. Oh, and I named this site Butt Hollow because I spread my rain jacket to sit on and it serendipitously turned out to be right over a butt sized indentation in the soil. Open map in new windowWant to add a map to your journal?