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Writer's pictureAdam Stevenson

7/3/20 Day 58: Hightop Hut (906.4) to Rock Spring Hut (930.3)


Friday, July 3 10:10 pm 23.9 mi

AT 906.4 Hightop Hut → AT 930.3 Rock Spring Hut

Weather: HOT and sunny. Sweaty day


Trail Conditions: Crowded! Definitely seeing the 4th of July crowds

My Condition: More of the same – full belly and happy heart. Getting spoiled rotten by Fresh Ground


Incredible banana pancakes this morning courtesy of Fresh Ground, along with egg, cheese, sausage, bacon, potato breakfast skillet. Met Jester, who hosts a Section Hiker podcast in the Mighty Blue network of podcasts. She interviewed Toy Story, Puddles, and me as we wrapped up breakfast, specifically about the 2020 trail experience. Very cool to be able to share a little bit about my experience. Walked and talked with Puddles for awhile this morning which was really nice. Talked about our trail experience, some of the people we were hiking with pre-pandemic (she talked about her trail family and a Canadian father-son duo), racism/sexism in the outdoors, movies (she has a monthly movie club with her 3 brothers – one in theaters and one at home), and dogs. Also chatted quite a bit about environmental/outdoor education, the recent AT pipeline controversy, and the importance of getting outside. It was a subtle thing, but she mentioned how much she appreciated Fresh Ground NOT offering to slackpack her – lots of men are apt to overhelp, to coddle and treat women like they’re delicate and incapable on their own, but Fresh Ground demonstrated faith in her just through that non-offer. From talking with Lauren too before the trail, the ladies out here have to deal with sexism pretty frequently both on the trail and in preparing for it, whether comments about “are you hiking with your boyfriend” to “I’d never let my daughter do something like that” or questions about "are you out here all by yourself?" or "Do you hike with a gun?" Toy Story, Puddles, and I stopped at the public campground for lunch and then hiked solo until the next public campsite, where we all met while talking to a thru hiker with quite the resume – 2x AT, 2x PCT, CDT, Te Araroa, Camino, currently section hiking the AT from his car and back so technically working on AT 3 and 4! Hot dogs and fries with Fresh Ground tonight, along with more great conversation. Gumby is friendly and determined, Toy Story is hilarious and fun to be around, Puddles is thoughtful and a great conversationalist, and Fresh Ground is still the same overwhelming tidal wave of generosity and positive energy.


Post Trail Analysis

I’m someone that is perfectly content living quietly – listening to the sounds of nature, or marching the miles away with a good audiobook. I find the quiet in life to be recharging, while other people are energized through conversation. Today was all about really getting to know the people in my group, which is a truly special experience. I have a tendency to live within my shell and generally don’t feel the need to share much, but Puddles consistently was a joy to talk and walk and share with and definitely helped pull me from my shell during the journey. Hearing about Puddles’s original trail family and some of the people she had been hiking with before getting off trail – Pipes, Grizz, Miss AT, North Star, Hummingbird, 5-Oh, getting to talk about my experiences with Oracle/Brent and Which Way. In the same way Jester asked thoughtful questions of us during our podcast interview, it was on us to ask thoughtful questions of one another as we all got to know one another. Fresh Ground’s Leapfrog Cafe does more than just providing hikers with delicious food – it promotes a true sense of community and brings people together in a way that goes beyond the natural method of the trail. Puddles, Toy Story, Gumby, Fresh Ground, and I formed a real bond this week through a shared experience, and that’s a special thing. We were hoping to book a group tentsite and do a few less miles today, but according to a park ranger EVERY site in the Shenandoahs was booked for the entirety of the foreseeable future. I got some incredible sunset pictures along Skyline Drive following dinner. We had been talking about Talladega Nights during the meal for some reason, and took a picture where we “didn’t know what to do with our hands.” We also fondly reminisced about the viral phenomenon that was planking after ourselves (in our minds at least) going viral getting interviewed for a podcast, and took a photo planking. The shelter was jam packed – Gumby opted to sleep in the shelter (he had an overnight mouse encounter along with noisy younguns) after what turned out to be a long, rough day for him and Toy Story, Puddles, and I found quite literally whatever plot of real estate we could for our tents – one of us was on rocks, one of us on a huge slope, one of us on a bed of roots. We groaned the next day as we walked less than 200 yards down the trail only to find a nice, wide open expanse of flat earth that would’ve better served our needs. It wasn't all bad, however - on the way down to the water source, I was able to enjoy some fireworks from afar, a wide open vista overlooking the valley below.






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