Wednesday, May 20, 2020 6:38 pm 8.5 mi
AT 172.3 Birch Spring → AT 180.8 Russell Field Shelter
Weather: Rainy night, drizzly morning, overcast afternoon, rainy evening BUT I’M STAYING IN MY FIRST SHELTER – how luxurious!
Trail Conditions: Really good! The Smokies remains pretty well maintained. The trail surface has been relatively even and smooth
My Condition: Feeling good mentally, emotionally, and physically!
Hikers Met: Thunderstruck (Flying Pig knew her – she sleeps with her food bag and played the first song she could pull up on her phone to scare off a curious bear...it was the song Thunderstruck)
Got a late start – I think I hit the trail around 11:30 am this morning knowing it was a very short day. Waited out the rain and did some Wim Hof breathing. The Flying Pig caught up to me and tried to give me the trail name of Cherry Coke. I gave him a Snickers Bar, both to repay an incredible kindness and to drive the name idea from his mind. I’m no Cherry Coke! We walked together until Mollies Ridge Shelter where I knew I couldn’t maintain the pace any longer. We talked ultrarunning and European long trails and Scott Jurek, Speedgoat, Legend, Stringbean, and Wim Hof. He is shooting for Siler’s Bald tonight, where I was planning to stay tomorrow night. I may yet catch up with the two big days which follow, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last I see of him. I have heard to never say goodbye on the trail, so you never know. Saw another pile of bear poo on the trail, this time with a big old footprint right smack dab in the center. Good thing I was watching my step! For what looked to be a nasty day weather wise, it was perfect today. Stayed dry as I hiked, rain when I had shelter. Fingers crossed for the rest of the week, particularly the later part of the Smokies! There’s still daylight left, but for now I’m the only person at the shelter. A couple out day hiking asked me about my thru hike and gave me some fresh almonds. They’ve been in the Smokies for the past two weeks and are loving the solitude, the lack of crowds and busy roads. For what many consider to be the most crowded part of the trail, seeing a grand total of 5 people today definitely isn’t bad!
Post Trail Analysis
I was indeed the only person at the shelter. How many thru hikers do you know that have had a Smokies shelter ALL TO THEMSELVES? The Smokies actually loosened up their regulations – normally, if you have a thru hiker permit you must use the shelter, unless it is full of people holding individual site permits, in which case you must give up your spot and pitch your tent. With the Smokies reopening, hikers were permitted to set up their tent if they so chose at the designated shelter sites. With the weather and with the total lack of other residents, I happily set up inside.
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