Date: 2018-10-02
From: USFS 246 stealth site

To: Route 60 Buena Vista/Lexington
Miles today: 9.7

I woke up at 10:30 pm and drank the rest of the half liter bottle with electrolytes. I had a headache so I took 2 more Advil and went back to sleep until just after midnight when the moon woke me up. It was shining brightly thru the trees and the left side of my tent. I went outside to pee taking in the beauty of the night for a few extra minutes and then I crawled back into my nest hoping to sleep thru until morning. It took me a while to get back to sleep but once I did I didn't awake again until 6pm. I packed up and had a Luna bar for breakfast along with a few sips of water and some dried pineapple chunks. We waited until 7:10 to start hiking so that we could see without headlamps. Today was a 9.7 mile day to route 60 where we'd be going to Buena Vista and Lexington. In 3.3 miles we came to the trail that lead us to a spring. It was about .4 off the trail and thru a nice meadow. We dropped our packs down on the trail a bit and carried our bottles down to the spring. It was icy cold and flowing well so we filled up and headed back up towards our packs. I had to duck off the trail toward a campsite and a large rock getting there just in time. When I rejoiined Eddyman at our packs I treated my water and grabbed my electrolytes from my food bag that Eddyman was carrying. I had to wait 15 minutes before I could drink my water and I was very thirsty! We hiked out and across the road and began the ascent of Cole Mt Bald. The first of 3 climbs today and at 3,924'. In 15 minutes exactly I thru my electrolytes into one of my bottles and once dissolved I drank my fill. I counted 100 steps at a time and stopped to rest at each one as needed sometimes making it to 200 or 300 before resting. I kept drinking each time I stopped. The grassy bald at the top was beautiful with views all around. Eddyman was waiting for me and we were joined by 2 section hikers who took our picture for us. We proceeded up to "the Bald" at 3,967' and took a break once we reached the summit of Cole Mt at 3,970'. We descended and then climbed up to 4,045' and the summit of Bald Knob. Our last climb of the day. Thank goodness! From here I called for a shuttle and reached Oma who said she could meet us at route 60 at 1pm. I couldn't wait to get down off this mountain. I was feeling so weak and worn out. I texted WE and let her know where we were and because we'd get to the motel ahead of her I asked that she call and have them give me a key when I arrived since we're sharing the room but it's reserved in her name. Eddyman and I arrived at route 60 at 12:50 and to our delight a picnic table! We sat down for not more than 2-3 minutes when Oma arrived. She was interesting and I really enjoyed her company as she drove us to Buena Vista post office for our boxes and then into Lexington to the Howard Johnson Motel. Oma reminds me of Which Way. She has been active as a trail maintainer for years and runs a hostel that is closed this year while they add chickens and an organic garden and a greenhouse so that they have a special place for hikers. When I explained to her I was not feeling well and suffering from fatigue, right away she blurted out my disease. I'm shocked because it's so misunderstood and so isolating as a result. I was just immediately comfortable in her presence. She brought us right to the lobby doors and offered services tomorrow morning if we needed. I got checked into WE's room and Eddyman got his own down the hall. I showered and was suddenly starving, absolutely famished and "hangry". I ran my laundry upstairs and Eddyman took over handling that while I took care of Chinese food delivery for us. When it arrived I delivered his to the laundry room and dined alone in the blessed air conditioning in my room. Chow Mein and white rice have never ever tasted so good. I could only eat half and I shared with WE when she arrived shortly after. But she'd also already eaten at Burger King. I guess we were all famished! WE had waited for her taxi in the sun at route 60 for an hour with no water. It's really warm here, in the 80's and I felt badly. After showers, laundry and some rest we played leap frog across the 4 lanes in front of the hotel and dined on Mexican food for dinner. Froggy from Stanimals hostel in Glasgow will be here at 8:30 tomorrow to pick us up and slack pack us 11 miles. We'll be doing as many 11-16 mile slack packs over the next couple of weeks as we can. I need to build up my strength again and work thru the other symptoms. I need my appetite back so I can fuel my work and I need to get rid of the diarrhea. I want to keep moving south but it will take me longer and without my pack the effort is less, allowing me to heal I hope. We agreed on a temp for the AC and both went to sleep. Breakfast is 6-9 in the lobby and I'm sure it'll be very minimal for me.