Sunday Adventure with Leyla and Charlie

Midweek Hike with Maggie and Charlie

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Lost Creek Campground to Mill Branch CS

Well, I survived the night.  And it’s not raining yet.   The statements were knocking around my head as I let the air out of my sleeping pad at 5 am after sleeping maybe 2 hours all night

I felt crap mentally but physically my body ached a lot less.  I guess any time off your feet helps even if it's not officially sleep. 

Just as I wrapped up the last of my packing for the day, rain started to patter on my tent.  Rushing, I jumped out and folded my Plexamid up quickly to keep it as dry as possible. I then shoveled cold soaked Breakfast Skillet and coffee into my mouth as I sat under the eaves of the outhouse in the now pouring rain. 

Rain or shine in an FKT, I told myself and started into the rain. Whippoorwill was back doing his thing on the bridge now that the locals were quiet.  Kind of funny.  It was warm in the early morning, but I knew temps were predicted to drop quickly.   Poncho only, I climbed uphill and downhill in what felt like an endless loop,  highlighted by the pouring rain and minimal visibility.  On the descent into the Ocoee River valley, I started to feel a strange rumblings in my gut.  Tried to tell myself that it was just exhaustion, but…

At the Ocoee Riveri had enough signal to call Jeff to check in.  I shared with him a little bit about my evening and 4-hour-walk-in-the-rain morning. And that I was feeling weird.  

He gave me the pep talk, "you are getting so close" and didn’t really offer an out or sympathy.  Sucked at the time but that’s what I needed.  Especially with a shuttle and the Ducktown hostel a call away at this specific road crossing. At the Thunderbird Falls Campground (super awesome, clean, hosted with fee and reservations) I stumbled into the palatial shower house with heater!!!! Lights!!! Running water!!!! Outlet!!!! Cell signal!!! Soap!!! And a hot air hand dryer.  Manna from hiker heaven. 

This saved me.  I took time to dry off, charge my power bank, and get my mental groove back. Totally worth the hour delay. 

I hiked out and uphill for the next few hours.  No more rain, but was overcast windy and cold.  And I felt bad.... Like can’t eat food or scared to drink more than sips of water for fear of puking

Definitely in a pain cave.  Pulled up big girl pants and put one foot I front of the other.  Thought about my shuttle on Thursday. Thought about not going hypothermic.  Thought about type 2 fun being better than any day at work. And somehow the miles moved by and it was 27, then 30, then looking for the last few creeks before my campsite.  

At this point sun was out for good but it was still cold.  Took a wrong turn so close to the end.  .3 at least then back to my wrong turn.  Then a creek crossing to ford (fell in, yes, wet feet at end of day) and hill.  But made it to my campsite before dark.  Set up tent, put on comfy clothes,  shoved in granola bar (couldn’t stomach dinner) and finally got some sleep.  I survived the day despite near constant contemplation of  curling up in ball on side of trail all day.  

Sleep alone in woods was divine, and I was even comforted by the scream-squeal-snorts of wild pigs.

But the exhaustion and nausea would stay with me for rest of adventure 😕

But thankfully most of the fear from the night before ebbed away.

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Ella Bredthauer

Benton MacKaye Trail Day 7

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Sunday Adventure with Leyla and Charlie

Midweek Hike with Maggie and Charlie

Lunch Trail Run

Morning Trail Run

Morning Run

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