So after getting all worked up about “the first real climb nobos face” (aka Blood Mountain), it turned out to be the best part of the hike so far. There were at least 20 other through hikers that stayed at Lance Creek last night (it’s the last spot you can camp without a bear can until after Neels Gap) so we all got up, ate breakfast and broke camp together.
The climb up Blood was continuous but never really strenuous. Sassafras seemed much harder just a few days earlier. Maybe I’m getting my trail legs early? That would make sense since I am definitely getting my hiker hunger earlier than normal. I’ve woken up every night and been just the slightest bit hungry at some point, even though I’ve been eating like it’s a job.
At the top of the climb, I hiked with another through hiker I had met the night before and near the top Anakin (hope that’s his trail name 😝) passed us since his dad was waiting for him with a bagel. He also had some coffee in a thermos and was kind enough to share the leftovers.
The hike down the mountain was also pretty pleasant. Perhaps that was due partly to the fact that I knew there was pizza at mountain crossings. I ordered a pepperoni and grabbed a coke, got the drop box I had left there a few days before and found a plug to charge my phone and battery from.
The pizza came out about 15 mins later and I ate it. All of it. Did I mention early onset hiker hunger?
I ended up staying for almost two hours at Mountain Crossings. I told myself it was to give time to let everything charge, but a small part of it was also a small pull of “the vortex” (hiker slang for as far as I can tell town stuff that can pull you off trail). It was so nice to sit in the sun on a deck and talk to other hikers and eat pizza. Why would I want to go climb more hills? I realized that there will always be that temptation – to stay off trail “just a little while longer”.
At last, I finally did leave and hiked the last 4-5 miles of the day to Baggs Creek Gap. With my resupply my pack was noticeably heavier. I should have gone through the resupply box a little more carefully. Something tells me I’m going to have a lot of food still left in a few days. It’s supposed to be a cold one tonight so the only warm place to be is on my hammock. Hiker midnight coming early today.
I’ve got two 13 – 14 mile days planned then a nero of only 6. Have a hostel reservation on Thursday since I’ll need to resupply anyway …and I want to catch the Cats opening round game in March Madness. Hopefully I’ll find the strength to get back on the trail after a night indoors 😊.
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