Day 65: Little Laurel Shelter to Flint Mountain Shelter

Well, I did it… I managed my first 13 mile day since returning to the trail – woohoo! I’m presently in my tent listening to the wind rustling the trees and an occasional period of sprinkling. The wind is highly variable and it feels like the bottom could drop at any moment. I just hope the rain is finished by morning so I can avoid a wet pack out.

Something is definitely not right with my left knee. It is hurting really bad while walking downhill. I’ve previously blogged about how the physical pain of hiking never really goes away and that it just becomes something to get used to. This pain is different. It’s specifically just below and to the outside of the knee. Maybe it’s just related to being off trail but it made the last descent today really slow and painful.

I was up at 610am this morning but not hiking until 9am again. I could’ve left by 800am, but socializing with Trisha, Janet and the other five section hikers was more fun – so that’s what I did!

A couple miles into hiking began the rocky and strenuous section I mentioned yesterday. It’s a rocky ridge walk the goes right over Firescald Bald Mountain. It’s quite a view and the trail there is definitely rocky and challenging. I don’t know that I’d call it strenuous, but it was early in my hike for the day, so there’s that. Whatever the correct classification, it was very technical. One wrong foot planting could mean an instant broken ankle, or even worse.

By 130pm I’d made it to Jerry Cabin Shelter marking the halfway point for the day. While there, another hiker named Chris arrived. He has started his day from Spring Mountain Shelter which I’d taken a break at two days ago. He was presently about 15 miles into his day.

I asked if he’d passed two women while hiking. He said that he hadn’t so I can only assume Trish and Janet took the bypass trail around the ridgewalk. It was probably a good idea as it did rain some in the afternoon. They were headed to Jerry Cabin where I was lunching. When I left at 230pm, they had yet to arrive so hopefully they’re ok.

After Jerry Cabin Shelter, I got into a hiking zone. It was kind of weird and hard to describe. I literally wasn’t thinking about anything. Usually my mind wanders all over the place while hiking, but not on this stretch. I was just totally zoned into the trail.

During the zone is when my knee started to give me trouble. I was able to push through ok though as the pain wasn’t actually affecting my walking stride or stance.

But the last 1.5 miles were different. Really bad pain was forcing me to walk differently and make odd stride changes.

But I did finally arrive here at 5pm. I’d covered 13.2 miles in 8 hours. Not too bad for a hurt knee. Chris is also here tonight. He’s in the shelter while I am tenting, as usual. We had dinner and talked for a while. He has the same two day plan to Erwin that I’m attempting. It will involve two consecutive 19 mile days.

I am going to try my hardest to pull it off, but with this knee like it is, I don’t know for sure. My backup plan is to hit Erwin in 3 days which will make three days of 13, 13 and 12 miles.

So there we have it! I’m off to sleep now – at 900pm. Wish me luck!

Wandering on…

Mojo