Day 21 – Groundhog Creek Shelter to Bluff Mountain

It was chilly overnight and there was a lot of condensation in the tent, probably because it was so misty. I managed to sleep okay after a wal ut snack and some clothing adjustments, but my sleeping bag and tent were borh wet when I packed them up.

Listener and I were first out of the shelter as far as I know. We were trying to cover 12 to 15 miles so that tomorrow we can get to Hot Springs, where we have a hostel reservation,  in 10 or 15 mikes, to give us some afternoon time in town.

Not too long after we left we came down into a gap where Grateful was eunning a one man trail angel show. He had hotdogs, pickles, fruit, drinks and cookies. I had two hot dog bums with pickles and mustard, an apple, and four cookies.  We were asked to sign on a big sheet of paper and write what we are grateful for, so I weote Friendly Southerners.  (They are generally very friendly,  and Grateful is from Dallas.)

We had a big climb up to Max Patch, which is a huge grassy area about 4600 feet up, with great views. It was cool today, probably around 12C at the most, except in a few lower areas facing south and protected from the cold north wind. But it was clear, and in places we could see four different lines of mountains in four increasingly lighter shades of blue grey.

Fuego and Master Chef, a Czech couple who live in Montreal and are doung the AT for a triple crown (they have already hiked the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail), passed us early on, but then we passed them having a snack, and strangely nobody else passed us all day in spits of there being several stronger younger hikers at yesterday’s shelter.

We made camp on a lowish mountain in an unofficial campsite but found good flat spots for our tents, a nice rock to cook on and eat beside, and a great branch for my bear hang. (Listener uses a bear can so just leaves it on the ground.)

It’s 7:58 and the sun is setting now. A good day overl but a bit cooler rhan we would have liked

I’m going to try leaving the flies open on both sides of the tent and hope that prevents condensation. It’s going to be cold again tonight but hopefully won’t drop below freezing.

Mile 249 to mile 264.5 with a .2 mile sidetrail from the shelter, so 15.7 miles. I’m 12% done as of today!