Date: 2015-05-17
From: Hog Gap

To: Harpers Creek Shelter
Miles today: 21.9
Weather: overcast clouds

It rained last night. The forecast is 60% chance of precipitation this afternoon. The sky is overcast and it's more humid. We made good time hiking the 7.7 miles to the first shelter in 3 hours. Andreas was still there even though he had arrived a half hour before. Nathaniel, a day section hiker was also there and shared his Deet free bug spray, which immediately worked. It's hard because sprays and creams make you feel dirtier and stickier on top of the sweat and days between real showers even though we rinse off and wipe down as much as possible. After the next 2.7 miles, Crafty and I hiked the side trail and rock scramble to Spy Rock which was a steep climb up but more of a rounded rock on top with more or less a panoramic view. Nathaniel also caught up with us on top. We then hiked on pausing at Priest Shelter for water and then again a half mile later to see the view from the summit of Priest Mountain where I tried a couple yoga balancing poses which was difficult in trail runners, sloped rock and near a ledge! Oh well. The descent was less fun as it was steep, rocky, tedious and took us longer than usual. We paused at another view and were dismayed we had only hiked 1.5 miles in the past hour. We still had 5.6 to go and it was 5 pm and I still needed to dry out my rain fly since I don't like to sleep in the shelters. So we set off. I trip all the time but had my third actual fall on the AT as I slipped on an unexpectedly slick rock and landed on my butt. I was fine but a little horrified my water bottle came very close to smashing a millipede that had curled up in self defense. There are many smashed millipedes on the AT. They are all over and seem to enjoy defying death by crossing the trail. Crafty then slipped and fell a few seconds later. We finally made it to the last 3 miles and 2 mile climb of the day. Something has finally clicked for me the last 2 days as I have been able to power climb up long, steep ascents at the end of the day with strength instead of fatigue. I climbed the 2 miles in a record 47 minutes and felt good the whole way. Coincidentally I have eaten Nutella the past two days as well. The sample size is not statistically significant so I will work hard to increase the sample size to see if there is a direct correlation between Nutella and my recent hiking strength. I haven't had Nutella much the last few years but Nutella on tortillas has become my new favorite trail food since I indulged and bought a jar in Glasgow 2 days ago. Or it could be the penny I found heads up on the rock at the last view. Two weeks ago Crafty found a shiny penny heads up on the trail and we had trail magic 2 minutes later and a few times the next 2 days. Maybe my penny has hiking super powers. Or more likely I am using my large muscle groups more effectively. 3 miles later I arrived at the shelter in a record 66 minutes to find Andreas and Slow Going. Crafty arrived a few minutes later. I hung my tent rain fly to dry while I set up the rest of my tent, cooked dinner and soaked my feet in the creek. Tomorrow we plan to head out early and hike the remaining 27.1 miles into Waynesboro for our next resupply and a shower!