Date: 2016-06-08
From: Pickle Branch Shelter

To: Four Pines Hostel
Miles today: 13.0

6/8We woke up early this morning. As normal, Alastair crawled out of his tent a hollowed out shell of a man (sorry, private joke). Tank also emerged from her hammock. The previous night we had a healthy debate over the pros and cons of hammocks. For once Alastair and I agreed on something... We don't get "the hammock thing."The plan was simple, eat a couple of honey buns chased down with some coffee and hike 6 miles to where the AT dumps out onto the road that leads to Four Pines Hostel, resupply and get back on trail.The first monkey wrench tossed into the plan was that the 6 miles were no ordinary 6 miles. The AT is very challenging in this part and passes through the popular Dragon's Tooth (which Tank immediately climbed as tourist positioned themselves to get pictures of a falling thru hiker).The trail coming out of Dragon's Tooth was even more challenging and in parts became a rock scramble. Alastair and I waked together and chatted as we made our way down vertical rock faces. Parts of it made me think of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park (except here the consequences of a slip would not be as severe). Still The decent to the gravel road where the hostel was located seem to take forever... This seems to be a common effect when there is a destination (especially one that promises food or rest )the trail goes on forever and ever!Finally we reached the gravel road. The hostel was to the right about .2 miles at that point I learned there was a grocery store to the left. Alastair and I were discussing hamburgers and other delicacies on the way down and I decided that is what I needed at that moment so Alastair Tank, Jack Rabbit and myself headed to the grocery store (we all hit the gravel road at about the same time).The grocery store was not too far down the road and it was basically a convenient store that also had a grill. There were several hikers in our group already there sitting in the tables outside including Gaia, Feather and Bear Bait. I ordered a cheeseburger and inhaled it in about one minute and washed it down with a big Gatorade.Almost as planned about that time Eddie from the hostel pulled up in the hostel van. As it turns out Eddie is a retired Philadelphia firefighter so we talked about firefighting and bonded over the fact that I have volunteered as a firefighter for many years. When we were done buying our things we all piled into the van and got a lucky break by getting a ride over to the hostel.I was excited to get to Four Pines Hostel as I had three packages waiting for me there... One from our REI, one from my sister and one from my friend Jeff Held (I credit Just in lighting the fire of an AT through hike when he told me about the trail back in 1989 when we took a road trip across the country). I was excited about receiving resupply from the boxes but yet knew the joy of a light backpack was going to end... That is the curse of restocking your backpack always seems so much heavier coming out of a town or hostel.I spent most of the afternoon sorting through my boxes and repacking my food bag, in addition because it was very warm, I took everything out of my backpack and let the sun shine on it. I was feeling antsy after that and that's when Eddie help me devise a plan for my next day's hike. For whatever reason everybody said catching a sunrise at McAfee Knob was a necessity during a thru hike. I could stay at the hostel, get up super early, hike for miles up the mountain and catch the sunrise. However to do this I would have to first complete 6 more miles so that I did not skip any part of the trail. So at 5 pm I decided I would slackpack the 6 miles and get up at 4 AM to catch the sunrise the next day.It worked perfect Eddie was taking a big crew of people back to the grocery store. He gave me a small slack pack that I could use to carry water and drop me off at the trail on the way to the grocery store.Walking with the tiny backpack with only two waters and some snacks in it was like catching a break. I felt so light and I was making good miles. The Plan was that when I reached the parking lot for McAfee Knob I would call Eddie and he would come pick me up and take me back to the hostel. I did the 6 miles in under two hours! I was very happy I did them in the early evening because it was a very mild walk which took me over open fields, ridges and at one point ran along the stream.I arrived back to the hostel and more people that I knew were there including Mayfly, Sunset and Salsa. It was pretty chilly outside so we all hung inside and had a few beers. Because I had to get up at 4 AM to catch the sunrise the night would not be a late night. I tried to muster volunteers to come along with me but as it stands right now only one hiker by the name of Foxy intends to go with me.