Date: 2016-05-24
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Side of Trail past Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: scattered clouds

So today was a tough day to wake up. I think after doing 22 miles yesterday and getting into camp around 8pm I needed a good night sleep. I finally got up around 9 and there were still a lot of people around. I think a lot of people had a long day the previous day. Getting out of the hammock at first was tough because my knee was hurting. Ever since I fell it has been bothering me a little. I stretched it out a little and that seemed to help. I also took some vitamin I to help. I finally got motivated and left camp around 10am. The terrain was easy today. I was hiking along and there were really no big ups or downs just a lot of little hills. When I came around the bend I could hear voices and I saw the first shelter. It was crazy how fast I had gotten there and it did not seem like I really worked that hard. There were a few hikers from the pervious shelter eating lunch so I joined them. I have started to take more lunch breaks recently and relax and enjoy my lunch. Before I would have a pocket full of snacks and just eat all day. I made a peanut butter and Nutella sandwich and it was nice to just relax for a little. After lunch I only had about 8 more miles. The terrain looked mostly flat and for the next three miles it has a gradual down hill. I was moving really quick on the down hills. I reached an area that was a little wetter and it was like a tunnel of mountain laurel that you had to walk thru. There were many little footbridges to stay dry. It was really cool because it was almost dark in there. I reached the next gap and took another 30 minute break. I knew I was only going to go to the last shelter before the town so I was in no rush with the easy terrain. After the 3 miles the last part of the day was mostly up to get to the last shelter but really it was a very little climb. There was never an steep hills or switchbacks. It mostly just ran along the ridge line. I really think that I could get used to this. I finally reached camp around 6 pm and it was weird becuase usually by this part of the day I am so tired and covered in sweat. I rolled in with a smile on my face and a dry shirt. The smile was gone quick when I found out the water source was down a steep .2 mile hill. I grabbed all of my bottles and made it to the bottom. I had ripped my one bottle the other day so I had to hold my hand over the hole as I used the bottle to filter the water. Every time I squeezed the bottle water would get all over me. It took me so much time to filter the water. I guess in the next town I will need to get a new bottle. The climb back up was worst. It seemed like it never wanted to end and mentally I was done for the day so I was just so tired. I finally made it up the hill with 4 liters of water to last the night and hopefully all of the way to town since I hear this is the last water source before town. Which is still 10miles but it is all down hill. Looking forward to getting to town tomorrow and would love to find some Chinese food. I have been craving it for a while and all you do on the trail is think about food and talk about food with other hikers. Time for bed. Fun Fact -A bear has 42 teeth