May 13: Campsite
 
Miles Today : 25.3
Total Miles : 46.2

I really wish that I could have had today's weather for yesterday - it was just perfect all day long. I was up really early this morning and I was actually the first person out of the shelter. I was all packed up and hiking down the trail before most people had even woken up. This is not my normal style, but today I felt the need to get some miles in early.

The day started off with a really nice walk along the Laurel Creek. The rest of the day was spend mostly climbing to the top of Brushy Mountain and bouncing along the ridgeline. There were not that many viewpoints from the mostly wooded ridge today, but the ones that I did get were just fantastic.

The actual hiking today was very enjoyable as well. The trail was in excellent condition and all of the climbs were graded and switchbacked, which allows you to keep a nice even pace. I also saw a ton of wildlife today, two redheaded woodpeckers, a huge wild turkey and a deer high up on the ridge.

Over the course of today, I kept bumping into two thru-hikers, Thumper and Assface. It turned out that I had actually traded emails with Thumper a few months ago. He had sent me a message asking for some advice on his impending hike and we exchanged several emails. Some of the advice that I had given him he did not believe at the time, but has found out since that his worries were unfounded.

So the reason for the high mileage day today was the complete lack of water. There was an 11-mile stretch with absolutely no water, and the Jenny Knob Shelter, which is supposed to have water, had been reduced to a mud hole. So I pushed past the shelter and found a small campsite along a dry river bed with a small spring. The water was clear, cold and tasty, so all is well.

Regardless, it felt really good to do a 25 mile day, the light weight pack that I am carrying now really makes a difference. Other than a few small blisters on my feet, my body fared pretty well through the ordeal. I am camping out here with Assface and Thumper tonight. Now, I need some food, some sleep and some good rest for tomorrow.

-Chomp

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