Day 2 on the Appalachian trail

Hawk Mt Shelter to Lance Creek Campsite - Mile 41.1 - Apr 12_th, 2018

This morning when I woke up, I had a slight headache...didn't sleep too well last night. As far as my body goes I felt great and feel physically ready to hit the trail....emotionally not so much. We never say "bye" in the hiking world, it's always "see you later". It's very hard knowing you won't see your husband/best friend/soul mate and children for almost 3 weeks. Of course I had already said my see ya to the children on Tuesday, they made no big deal so that made it easier. Joe is my rock and I realized just how much his presence alone I missed not to mention our hiking conversations. I boohoo'd for most of a mile off and on but soon knew I had to put on my big girl hiking pants and move on down the trail plus crying and mountaineering does not mix, HA! I only saw a few hikers for the first half of my day and that was mainly in passing. I had lunch at Gooch Mt. shelter around 11:30, there was an ATC official volunteer staying at that shelter keeping an account of who was coming and going and whether they were thru hiking or section hiking like me. I didn't stay long, I usually don't like to sit for long. Around a mile or two out I passed a senior group out on a day hike, they were very nice and the last lady in the group gave me a big thumbs up and a attagirl! That felt really nice, strangers who are hikers are so much more different than strangers you meet on the street somewhere. There is a sine of respect on the trail that you don't get in society.

Made it up Sassafrass Mt. but will be taking awAy a sunburn, mainly my ears got it since they were sticking up from my cap. (Later realized I had a blister along my whole ear) I did have sunscreen but it ended up being too late for my ears. Made it to Woody Gap but really didn't feel like going any further but didn't feel like it was safe enough to stealth camp near such a busy hwy. I moved on with a husband wife team just kind of tagged along for about 2 more miles then they stealth camped and I kept going to Lance Creek because I knew there were bear cables there for me to hang my food on. Made it to Lance by about 5:30 and I was completely exhausted mentally and physically, pitched my tent and made myself eat then called my husband to boohoo. It was rough, and glad to hear he had made it home safely. I tossed and turned all night and couldn't get my sleeping bag to close all the way due to my zipper not wanting to zip up....eventually a few days later Joe fixed it for me. That was the 16.1 miles that almost completely ended my hiking trip due to my blisters and black toes (bruised to where you loose your toenails). You will see that I eventually had to learn a few things and regroup.