Warm like a bug on a rug

30° am, 14° wind chill

21st pm

9.7 AT Miles, 52.7 Total AT Miles

Siberia

I woke up chilled to the bone. My alarm went off at 06:20 but I decided to lie down under my quilt in the shelter because I knew it was colder outside. I got up at 07:00 and put on my light jacket, my puffer jacket, my wool hat and my windproof pants. My hands went numb in no time. I didn’t text my wife my normal start-of-the-morning text on my inReach because I was too cold. I packed up as quickly as I could and beat Jennifer and Untouchable to the trail at 07:30. I needed to walk to warm up. The sky was clear but the winds were brutal. Frosty had told me earlier that part of today’s trail was an old logging road. I found that to be true, but it was uphill. For once, I preferred to go up because it meant more body heat. As I walked, I found that the western sides of the ridges were in shade with strong winds, but the eastern side of the ridges was in strong sun and no wind.

Fast pace in the cold

After walking a couple of miles, Untouchable and Jennifer caught up to me. They were worried because they hadn’t seen me yet because I was lost once again, I have no idea why. Untouchable told me that Ty (Canada) had sprained his ankle and was now at the Stanimals shelter determining how bad it could be. This now has me paranoid as I climbed up and down jagged rock outcroppings on the trail. Adding to the concerns was the frost on the rocks. I reached the top of Blue Mountain at 12:30, texting Stanimals to be picked up by shuttle at Unicoi Gap at 1:30. I began meeting day hikers as I approached Unicoi Gap, many of them covering their ears with gloved hands if they weren’t wearing a wool hat. My pace was fast downhill and I finished my hike for the day at 1:15 p.m. By then, Jennifer had already found her transport and Untouchable was taking a breather before continuing on the AT. I tried in vain to encourage him to reconsider, as his bag is rated at only 30° and single digits were anticipated that night. He chose to stay on the path and move forward.

Stanimals – Around the Bend Hostel

‘No Joe’ with Stanimals picked me up at 1320 and I was quickly at the hostel. A great setup at Stanimals with scheduled transfers into town, I found another top bunk to stay in for the next two nights with predicted lows below 15° and a lower wind chill. I took a nice hot shower and started doing laundry. I was craving lasagna and the normal Italian restaurant they knew was closed for the night, but they found a good replacement restaurant. I had the best mixed salad, buttered bagel, lasagna and a beer that hit the spot at Bugattis Restaurante. Stanimals returned me to my bunk where I spent a very warm and comfortable night in my bunk. A very nice end to a hard day. I appreciate the Stanimals shelter more than I know because I was cold and tired and they made sure I had a place of refuge. Info lengkap: cxv6. I’m looking forward to a zero day tomorrow.

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