Date: 2018-09-26
From: Blackrock hut

To: Beagle Gap stealth site
Miles today: 15.2

The shelter being less crowded afforded me a better night's sleep. I got up once and peed beside the shelter almost getting caught by Eddyman who got up moments after me to do the same. Then at 5:45 I heard an alarm and I thought it was Eddyman who got up and turned it off so I took it as my cue to get moving. We're planning 13-17 today and I thought we'd get up a little later. As it turned out that was Galaxy and his alarm because he and Songbird are going to go for the 20.7 to get to Waynesboro tonight. I totally blew being able to sleep in a bit! I made some chocolate raspberry oatmeal but decided I couldn't eat it and opted for a protein bar instead, donating my oatmeal to Galaxy and Songbird who enjoyed it. I can't eat anything that doesn't really appeal to me and I'm trying to get as much nutrition and calories in me as possible. Songbird gave me 4 more ginger capsules and I took one right away. When we left the shelter we were walking in a misty cloud but soon after the weather cleared and I saw my shadow. I felt for a minute like punxutawney Phil and wondered if we'd have 6 more weeks of rain or if it was really over. Shortly up the trail I heard a rustling to my right and when I looked my eyes met with a bear's and he quickly scrambled down the tree and beat feet into the woods. When I caught up to Eddyman I told him but he hadn't seen it. I dropped back again on a climb only to find him waiting for me at the top. He'd just seen a mother and cub 5' off the trail and they ran off when they saw him. A half hour later Eddyman stopped and backed up on the trail and my first thought was a snake but it was a larger, older bear on the side of the trail. We tapped our trekking poles together and encouraged the bear to move on but he was slow to saunter away, as if he's used to seeing humans and less bothered than the others. It was really nice to see the wildlife out. I'm assuming they don't like playing in the rain any more than we do. We even got to enjoy a couple of views today! I have more energy today and I can eat small amounts of food more often. It was quite warm though, around 80 and humid. We stopped at a parking lot and took our shoes and socks off to dry out in the sun. I started my day with 2 liters of water and I have less than half a liter and another 4 miles to get to the closest spring. The water is 12+ miles apart today. I spoke with a woman from NJ in the lot, telling her the water is far apart for us today and it's quite warm. I could see they had a thermos and a cooler in the car but she never offered anything. I dropped many hints during our conversation. Her husband never spoke a word and they hiked off together after moving their car into the shade. If there's a next time I will just flat out ask if they have any extra water or beverages and I'd be happy to pay for them! When Eddyman and I arrived at the water 4 miles away we almost kneeled in front of it. It's ironic this love hate relationship with water. I've been rained on for 2 weeks and yet I need this water so badly. I filled up both liters and treated them with Aqua Mira. I have to wait 15 minutes before it's safe to drink. I sent my pump home from Open Arms Hostel. It's heavy and it's an upper body workout I'm not interested in anymore. We hiked on up the mountain 1.5 miles toward the shelter. By the time we arrived at the trail to it we had each consumed a liter! We saw Galaxy there who had the same experience but managed to get a can of Dr Pepper from someone in the parking lot which helped them. We filled up and Eddyman filled an extra bladder bag so we'd have plenty of water to stealth camp tonight and hike 6 miles tomorrow morning to town. We continued to climb up this mountain and when we arrived at the top we noticed that the sky was growing darker. As we hiked down to Beagle Gap we began to hear the thunder and see blackening sky. It was 4:45 so we pitched our tents in a meadow behind the parking lot and port-a-potties at Beagle Gap. I felt the drops coming and made sure I was staked down tight as the wind was picking up. Once I had all my gear and myself inside I looked at my phone to see the severe weather warning right upon us. I yelled to Eddyman in his tent just before the sky opened up. Tons of rain and 60 MPH gusts rocked my tent as I lay there staring up at the rainfly thru the screen on the top of my tent. I kept checking the time on my phone telling myself it would be 20 minutes then 15, etc. But it lasted almost 45 minutes. I finally let my breath out and mopped up a few drops where I know I need to seam seal now! With the worst of the storm over Eddyman ventured out to the handicap port-a-potty and made his dinner. The row of 4 units had been cleaned that day and were still wet inside but clean. I opted to dine on my leftover pepperoni and some other items in my tent and then brushed and brought my bear bag over so Eddyman could stow them up on top of the potties. I watched 5 deer at the apple tree in the meadow as I walked back to my tent. It was sweet and peaceful. I climbed into my tent and had a nice call with Brian before rolling over and closing my eyes. Tomorrow we'll hike a short 6 miles to town and take a Nero and a zero.