Day 272

Day 272 (AT 76): 33 miles

The day got off to an early start when the other hikers in the shelter got up at 4 which I liked cause it made me do the same. One of the guys said his kin would be doing trail magic a little ways up the trail today and I got there in the afternoon. It was nice to sit down, have a coke and a coors and chat with some hikers. They said there weren’t too many behind them that I’d be seeing anymore.

While sitting down and taking a snack break today I started to be antagonized by a chipmunk that kept running around me and spasing out while yelling. When he realized he wouldn’t be able to get to any food, he retreated to climbing the tree above me and raining hell down on me of bark, nuts, and other debris. Spiteful chap

I rolled up to an empty shelter at 8:30 but was still feeling pretty good so I decided to push 4 more miles to the next shelter. I ended up getting there around 10:30. The shelter was full and all the decent campsites were taking. I ended up camping on a rocky slope near 2 other people that got there late. The one bright side of getting past the NOBOs and not seeing anyone anymore will be not having to worry about sharing shelters at all. On the first part of the trip that thought never crossed my mind.

Generally I don’t mind night hiking but if I’m listening to some sort of dark podcast my mind can start to go to bad places. Tonight’s uneasiness came from a podcast about Midsommar.

I didn’t see it, but I heard something very heavy running off today twice within a 5 minute time span so I’m guessing it was a moose. Unrelated but as I was trying to push to a privy to use it I came within 4 seconds of shitting my pants, the second closest of the year but I’m still clean. I do love being back on the AT and having privies but they can add a little danger by getting frisky and waiting for them.

Song of the day: potato salad-type the creator