In the middle of the night, I was surprised to hear the rain falling. I wasn’t expecting it, so it was lucky I chose to spend the night at the shelter. The only downside was that the no-see-ums were biting again, although not as badly as last time.
Back on the AT
After yesterday’s hike to Loft Mountain Wayside, I spent today’s 16 miles on the AT. After beautiful panoramic views of Shenandoah on Skyline Drive, today was a full-blown green tunnel. It was gloomy and wet for most of the day, but luckily the rain didn’t return. My Frogg Toggs raincoat stank of mold, so I threw it away in Waynesboro and I still don’t have a spare.
I was excited to see another ring-necked snake on the trail today. The first was just after McAfee Knob, and it moved too fast to take a photo. They are native to Virginia and have a very interesting color, with a neon orange circle around their neck. They might be my new favorite snake.
Dispersed Camping
I took a break on a rock outcropping at the top of Hightop Mountain. It was one of the only views of the day. There weren’t many designated campsites or shelters on this stretch of trail, so I spent the night at a random dispersed campground with four hikers squeezed into it. We sat in a circle on the floor, eating dinner. 
The wind began to pick up as we turned in for the night. I think my sleeping mat may have a hole in it now. It has started to deflate every few hours. I guess it’s okay for now, I don’t mind blowing it up again. That’s the least of my worries.
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