Sprawl: An Accidental Section Hiker.

Sprawl: An Accidental Section Hiker.

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Sprawl: An Accidental Section Hiker.
Sprawl: An Accidental Section Hiker.
#202 Velvet Rocks Shelter to Moose Mtn Shelter - Day 123: MM1752.3 - MM1761.8

#202 Velvet Rocks Shelter to Moose Mtn Shelter - Day 123: MM1752.3 - MM1761.8

.....Fear not, the trail more gets treacherous and dangerous and ultra-adventurous soon enough......until then, I’m thankful for this uneventful day - thankful for new friends.

Sprawl
Jan 18, 2025
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Sprawl: An Accidental Section Hiker.
Sprawl: An Accidental Section Hiker.
#202 Velvet Rocks Shelter to Moose Mtn Shelter - Day 123: MM1752.3 - MM1761.8
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8-31-23

Rib-Eye rises late and starts the ceremonial fire he intended to light last night. The others are already gone. I’m taking my time with the morning since I don’t plan to hike very far these first few days.

Rib-Eye began his hike this spring at Springer Mountain in Georgia and hiked to Hanover. He jumped up to Mount Katahdin and hiked back to Hanover. When he walks into town today, his long journey will be complete.

But first: the last fire of his journey to commemorate his hard-earned finish.


I unknowingly say goodbye to an old friend today. Those of you who read the story of my 2023 hike (Posts #149-#198 / Book Three) will remember Wallace, the stone walls I walk past, walked though, and walked over nearly every day of that hike.

Today, I walk through an opening in the wall one last time. It was good to see my old friend again. I didn’t know it be the last time.

Read history of the wall (Wallace) at Post #171

and my comments and connection with it at Post #180.


There seems to be a shortage of water on the trail. I pass creek beds with no water flowing through them. I find a cooler with a few water bottles inside - all empty, as trail angels sometimes leave bottled water near roads during these conditions.

A few miles into the morning’s hike I catch up to Chip & Doc near a very shallow and slow-flowing stream. It seems a bit sketchy, but we gather water to filter anyways. They tell me I better get it when I find it because there’s been a drought.

Our conversation from last night and this morning continue flowing seamlessly.

Chip’s ankle is giving her some problem, so they’re moving slow today. Otherwise, I’m sure I would not have caught up with them.


Moose Mountain Shelter rests between The Moose Mountain South and North peaks. I’ve only one more steep thousand-foot climb ahead up South Peak, then the hard work of the day will be done. Hiking up as slow as possible, I’m monitoring my heartbeats and controlling my breathing.

It’s fairly early in the afternoon when I arrive at the shelter. I half expect to find Beagle sitting up here taking a break, but I guess he’s moved on - of course he has. I’m only on day two and moving slow and he’s a thru-hiker. Thru-hikers hike rings around the Sprawl(er).

It’s very quiet up here. The air has becoming thick with humidity as the day has progressed. The sky has gone from blue to white. My senses are telling me rain is on the way. Maybe it’ll rain through the night. Maybe it’ll fill the dry creek beds.

I have the shelter to myself. I change into my camp clothes and hang my hiking clothes on a small bare-branched tree to dry out.

The “luxury item” I brought for this hike is a small AM/FM radio. I brought it mostly to listen to weather reports when I’m out of phone range and to keep me company on nights I camp alone.

I wasn’t expecting such warm conditions when planning for this hike. I’d envisioned autumn conditions in lower elevations with spurts of winter conditions higher up. I also didn’t think the trail would have as many hikers on it as I will encounter in the weeks ahead.

At the moment, sixties rock music accompanies my early supper. Sitting on the wooden bench across from the shelter, near the cliff, I peer across the valley at distant mountains, wondering which ones I’ll climb.

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