My Poop Story (AT Lash ’26, Day 4, continued)

Now playing: “Shake It Out” by Florence + The Machine

My «whys» related to this post:

• Inspire me to complete my book.
• Take as many photos as you can to remember the moments, but also create canvases with the best of each state.
• To “move on” and finish what I already started.
• See the world and meet other good people along the way.
• Embrace the blowjob and fall in love with even the worst of the AT

Day 4 (continued): Monday, April 6

• State: Georgia
• Begin: Lance Creek Restoration Area (mile 23.9)
• End: Bull Gap (mile 32.5)
• Address: Nobo
• AT Miles Today: 8.6
• Total LASH Miles: 32.5
• Total AT Miles: 579.1
• Forecast: Mostly cloudy, high 62/low 38

Warning

This post contains a discussion about, well, pooping my pants. If this is not a topic you are interested in hearing about, skip this post.

The clean versionhowever: I stayed at Bull Gap with familiar friends April, Iculus, Rovin, Sophie and Tori. I also met Joe and Wayside. I had an accident, but everything turned out well.

Previously on LASH

April and I left Neel Gap and headed to Bull Gap.

On Day 2, that morning I met high school student Rovin and Uncle Iculus, a family friend, at the water fountain. On day 4, I arrived at Blood Mountain, where I met Tori and Sophie. Once we reached Neel Gap, I said goodbye to a friend from Above the Clouds Hostel, Brandon, and hello again to another, April, who decided to accompany me until I reached my resupply box at Green Dragon Hostel.

Arrival at Bull Gap

Just before 6 pm on April 4, I arrived at our destination, Bull Gap, and set up camp. We had just left together a few hours ago from Neel Gap, where we made a plan to stay together until the 7th (April 9).

We camped with Joe (left) from Colorado, who would later be known as «Moonstone.»

A bearded man named Wayside was already in the camp without shelter and without privileges. It turned out that he had fallen asleep there in his hammock for a simple nap the day before, which turned into almost a full day of sleep. Soon another man named Joe arrived. He and I bonded over some of the same gadgets we both had from Garage Grown Gear. Joe set up his tent next to April’s and my tents.

dinner

Tori (left) and her friend Sophie joined April (right), Moonstone and me for food, tea and good vibes.

I was soon ready for more food, even though it had only been a few hours since my pig at Neel Gap’s Mountain Crossings. As the three of us began to prepare dinner, Tori and Sophie arrived, followed by Iculus and Rovin. Once Tori and Sophie set up their camp, they asked to join us, citing that our vibe was attractive. «Hell yeah, others think we’re the cool people,» I thought. Or wait… I could have said that jokingly out loud.

Knowing they were hot on their heels after spotting them at Neel Gap, Rovin and Iculus also came over and gave us a nice little crew for dinner. It started to get cold, so we brought out the tea. I had a mint one and Sophie and Tori also offered us all what they had.

Throat Coat is my favorite tea. And of all the teas on all the trails in the world, she (Sophie, right) brings out mine.

«You know, what I really wish I had right now is this guy called ‘Throat Coat’ from Traditional Medicinals. I use it for allergies and when I lose my voice from coaching kids soccer.»

And just as I said «Throat Coat,» Tori and Sophie’s faces lit up. That’s exactly the tea they had. The trail provides! Court! We swapped and my night went from great to Kool-Aid Man level. «Oh yeah!»

Then suddenly my night changed from partying to going to the bathroom.

The history of poop

There was a beautiful sky at Bull Gap that afternoon – the calm before the storm. Storm Jackson, that is.

Just as the sun set, we all got ready to sleep. As I walked alone toward my tent, I thought it was safe to let out some of the gas I had been holding in. I’m sure I’d eventually get to a point where it would be okay to fart with other people if they were part of my trail family. But even though these guys were amazing, I wasn’t ready yet.

Yeah, well, despite everything I’ve learned from previous poop stories on Backpacker Radio, I trusted a fart I shouldn’t have farted.

Yes, I ripped my pants.

“Everything okay, Storm?” April asked, when she saw me limping towards my tent in a funny manner.

“Time to dig a hole,” I said with a laugh mixed with urgency. And that’s all I needed to say for her to understand.

But the good news is that I was prepared for this. The aforementioned Backpacker Radio has a recurring segment where guests and listeners share their poop stories. For many, suffering an accident of this type is a rite of passage on the road. So, anticipating that something like this would happen to me too, I had already thought about what I could do in various scenarios, including sharting.

I was very lucky that it was a pretty solid shart and I was able to catch it all between my cheeks. However, I had an extra pair of boxers stashed away just in case. Honestly, the hardest part was bending down to get my “shit kit” and headlamp out of my tent.

And remember: this camp had no toilet and fair it got dark. But I was successful and headed into the woods to find a good spot to dig a hole to do like Florence + The Machine over and shake it.

my first cathole

I didn’t think it would be appropriate to take a photo of my actual used cathole, but I still knew it was important to photograph the scene «before» the incident.

Not only was this my first poop story, but it was also the first time in almost 600 miles of hiking on the AT section that I had to dig a hole. Somehow, I’ve always been able to hold it long enough to get to the toilet, the bathroom, or the end of the walk. Unfortunately, the streak was already over, but luckily there were no stripes on my boxers.

To quote Frank Reynolds in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: «Anyway, I started exploding.» I found the perfect fallen tree to spread my cheeks and let the surprisingly solid turds explode into my gorgeously crafted cathole. Boom! Job well done.

I took a photo of the place before dropping in, which may need its own canvas to mark this event. But I missed an incredible opportunity to record an Instagram reel of my first time. I guess I’ll just blog instead.

the thoughts

This isn’t necessarily relevant, but here’s a photo at Bull Gap to break up all the potty talk for a moment.

Look, I know “Shake It Out” is partly about getting rid of regrets, not excrement. And you know what? I don’t regret pooping my pants. I’m so proud to finally have my story. Will I regret posting it on the Internet? Maybe. But I always look forward to hearing the poop stories on Backpacker Radio, and now I have one to tell. To quote Frank Reynolds again: “Poop is fun.”

By the way, I sent this poop story to Backpacker Radio’s mailbag. So someday you might end up hearing it read aloud. It’s not a shame, but very lucky because it was clean.

And yes, I have a urine story too. But that won’t be until the 24th. Stay tuned. I know you can hold on until then.

Next

I met trail angels, trail team volunteers, a ridge runner, and a few hikers who will play important roles in my AT trip. Oh, and Sentayo is hot on my heels!

Keep going (so you can earn your own poop story). -Storm