July 16 - Dawn to Dusk and Then Some

Post date: Jul 26, 2012 1:21:39 AM

While big ascents and descents pose a physical challenge to hikers of the AT, just as difficult and perhaps more mentally challenging are the pointless ups and downs trail designers seemed to go out of their way to include with no apparent scenic, historic or other "ic" rationale other than perhaps sadistic.

This day started with an immediate descent and back up again followed by more of the same, over and over and over. Fourteen miles into the hike a food stop at On the Edge Farm occurred and then off again.

It was a very long day and with headlamp blazing into the night "Five Pair" hiked until at 9:00pm she found her way into the Thistle Hill Shelter. The tent went up and the day closed with 21.5 miles completed.

The affection that "Five Pair" holds for night hiking is on par with that of hiking in the rain and boulder scrambles at elevation.

1727.4 miles complete\457.0 miles to go