#134 Paul C. Wolf Shelter to Blackrock Hut - Day 68: ATMM 859.3 to ATMM 885.0
Go Everywhere. Try Everything. Fear Nothing. - Wise, Old Fence
Go Everywhere. Try Everything. Fear Nothing. - Wise, Old Fence
My sleeping pad has been losing a little more air each night since the beginning of this trip. It’s gotten so bad it had to be refilled twice last night. Not good.
On next year’s hike, I’ll leave behind my Nemo pad, which has almost no insulation when deflated and take take my foam pad, which has lots of insulation and is indestructible.
2022 Sprawl has spoken.
Will 2023 Sprawl listen?
Abe, Trouble, and I begin moving around at about the same time. The air is cool and foggy. Drops of water randomly fall from surrounding trees, tapping the shelter’s metal roof. The waterfall and stream sound fuller than yesterday thanks to heavy rain yesterday evening and throughout the night.
Abe is heading into town for a big breakfast, then to Stanimal’s 328 Hostel for a long day of rest and to resupply. It’s a gentle five-mile hike from the shelter to town so he skips breakfast and packs his gear at light-speed, then moves along. Nothing moves faster than a hiker packing up on town-day. “See you guys up trail,” he yells as he exits the shelter. But I won’t see him up trail. This is the last time he and I see one another. It’s been a pleasure, Abe.
Oh, Abe’s trail name has nothing to do with our sixteenth president, but the first three letters of a type of tree he’s fond of, the name of which escaped me the instant he told me.
Trouble skips breakfast as well. “I’m sure you’ll pass me on the trail soon,” she says as she departs the shelter. I don’t catch up with her.
Today is Mother’s Day. Her daughter booked a hotel room in Waynesboro for her and said there’s a gift waiting inside for her.
I later learn that she hikes well past Waynesboro, then hitches back to the hotel. The surprise in the room is her daughter.
I have a long haul in front of me today so no stopping in town for this hiker. I take time to prepare my usual predictable and boring breakfast - oatmeal & coffee.
One of the young girls from the group of young weekend hikers comes into the shelter with three power bars in hand. “Oh, your friends have gone already,” she says, as she puts them in my hand. “Be sure to share with them when you see them.” I thank her for the gift and wish her Happy Trails.
Since I didn’t see my friends I ended up eating all three bars over the next few days.