Date: 2015-10-18
From: Reeds Gap

To: Stealth Camping north of The Priest 
Miles today: 13.0

Adam drove Beetle and I to the Reeds Gap trailhead early this morning and we hugged good bye. Beetle was hiking north and doing the same slackpack I did yesterday while I continued south. It was hard leaving the hostel knowing it would be below freezing tonight. I caught glimpses of the sunrise again through the green canopy and the immediate upclimb helped warm me up. At least I had feeling in my fingertips again.It ended up being a gorgeous day full of brilliant sunlight, vistas and warmth. I felt like I was sitting on top of the world today when I took an early lunch break at a vista overlooking the mountain tops and town below called chimney rocks. Perfect rock croppings and formations to sit on for viewing pleasures made this one of my favorite lunch spots so far. You don't always find the perfect lunch spots with no wind when it is actually lunch time. Usually it is right after I eat my lunch that I find the perfect spot. I had packed out leftover Chipotle salad and another turkey and gouda wrap for lunch and for dessert I had peanut M&M's again and dill and sea salt triscuits with more gouda. It was a real feast, and I felt nourished and nurtured by nature at the same time. It also helped lighten my pack which is a real good thing too. Things got a little more hairy after lunch. I passed a shelter with a beautiful creek crossing and somehow stumbled on the wet rocks and landed ankle deep in the water breaking my fall with my treking poles. I twisted my ankle slightly but didn't stop until out of sight from the two men breaking up camp. Just too embarrassing. An hour later they passed me while I was resting on a rock and said they were worried because it looked like I had sprained my ankle. I kept stopping to rest it when it got to be too much. My next calamity came when I was going down a switchback and my foot caught on a rock hidden beneath the thick layers of leaves of the trail. I was going slow and watching my steps, but I somehow propelled forward and landed face and body down on the ground and continued sliding down the steep mountain side like I was body surfing. The only thing that stopped me was a fallen tree and a pile of rocks. I have often looked down and wondered what would happen if I fell and slid down while hiking along a ridge line. Now I know. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but definitely not an experience I want to repeat. The only body parts that really hurt were my right hip and left ankle which I twisted in the creek. I still had my trekking poles in my hands and after assessing the damage I somehow managed to pull myself up and hobble back up to the trail. I hiked on and within 15 minutes came to a large creek and filled up with water. I consulted my guidebook and saw that it is called Cripple Creek which made me roar with laughter. This was hilarious to me as I was feeling crippled myself. The temperature was dropping and my body was bruised and sore so I decided not to hike all the way to the top of Priest Mountain which was my destination for the evening.  The climb was very steep and included a 2200 foot elevation gain. I still had to hike a couple more miles to find a suitable stealth camping site. I am tucked into a hollow in my tent trying to keep warm. It is bitter cold already and I've had to move my tent four times already because I keep sliding downhill. There don't seem to be any flat spots here, and I'm set up on rocks and roots. Still, I am happy to find this spot at all. I am wearing everything I own to try and keep warm and now need to zip my down mummy bag over my head. Someone had suggested using an emergency blanket in my bag as well. That is an excellent idea, and I have one coming in my next resupply.  I wish I had it now. Tonight will be a real test to see how this Florida girl handles freezing temperatures in a tent. What a day!