Date: 2023-04-11
From: Springer Mountain Shelter

To: Hawk Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 7.2

A good night¢s sleep, pretty sunrise, a dank protein chocolate chip oatmeal, and tea makes for a great start to the day. Will and George rolled out early in efforts to have more mileage, but Margaret and Firecracker kindly stayed back to help me troubleshoot if I could pack my pack down smaller. Today I got the top to roll 1-2x and attach the compression straps (did not have space to tighten alas)! Better than yesterday which was no roll, no compression strap LOL. One day at a time - stay tuned to this saga which, while may not be thrilling to you, is actually something occupying a lot of my headspace so far. Walking I was feeling great, only sore in my shoulders and not in knees / feet at all except for my pinky toes starting to become hotspots due to the Hokas being too narrow to accommodate my orthotics and double socks. I must baby them for the next few days until Neels Gap where I can swap for a pair of 11W or 11.5 shoes for more room. Yes I have flippers for feet. It¢s fine - very stable footing! I also hope to make a big dent in my book so I can tear out a ton of pages and cut weight. Yesterday during strategy Ron told me that today was the vacation day, so I decided to take it easy with the leisurely breakfast, and left at 9:45am. Hike was good excluding feet hotspot, but felt strong carrying the pack. I leapfrogged Margaret / Firecracker / Griffey and I stopped at Stover Creek for some body maintenance. The ladies rolled in while I was there and I got to chat with them and met Won¢t Get Up Will who rolled in, and is doing her THIRD thru hike since 2019. Dang.Post tuneup, I rolled on and blue blazed (side trail not part of official AT, white blaze is official AT) to Lost Creek Falls which Ron and Firecracker recommended. It was lovely!!! Prettier than Amicalola Falls, because at the very least I could actually appreciate it unlike the other where I was just focused on chugging up the stairs. I sat for half an hour watching the pattern of the water racing over the falls, and with Firecracker and WGUW¢s encouragement screwed up the courage to take a dip in it. It was COLD but felt so refreshing, my feet were happy as a clam and it felt nice washing the salts off. (My research yielded that a common thruhiker regret was not taking every chance to swim so I wanted to set the tone right). Margaret and Firecracker / Griffey were only overnighting to Three Corners / the falls, so that was the last I¢ll probably see of them - but they were so sweet and really helpful fonts of knowledge.I trudged the last 2 miles, leapfrogging WGUW, and rolled into the campsite at 3:30pm. Set up camp, chatted with folks, and made coconut chicken curry for dinner. After the wash up I crawled into my tent to read my book and rest up for tomorrow which is supposed to be tough - 7 miles without water and going up Sassafras. But after that all downhill and water to be found. !!Literature Corner!!British senior official on a warship finds the ordinary seamen poor conversation, plops into a sumptuous armchair and engages the other armchair¢s occupant with a conversation about Wagner in German / French / Arabic - which Lawrence wryly notes that ¢the ship¢s officers found the whole conversation unnecessary¢ - making me almost spit out my tea at dinner. I would rate today 8.75/10 due to hotspots.