The fire in the shelter is almost completely out when I wake up. Only a few embers remain at one end. However, it has done a very good job keeping us warm through the night and drying our shoes and socks. Imagine that: dry socks.
The plan is to do my longest hike yet, about 13.3 miles. And I’m going to visit Kumali, which is both the highest point on the AT and the 200 mile mark. Still, having dry shoes and socks is, and will continue to be, my highlight of the day. There are no prunes in those socks.
Much of yesterday’s snow has melted and, apart from a few patches here and there, the road is clear again. There’s also less elevation, and what elevation there is (still 3,500 feet, mind you) is clearly dispersed along the trail, which is never much of a challenge. The ten kilometers before the shelter where we decided to meet for lunch pass neatly.
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Forrest and Swift are waiting for me as I take the last few steps towards the ramp leading to the monument in Kuwohi. I just smile as I do it and have few words to spare. I just spent the last hour walking through a pine forest, which reminds me a lot of home. Trees provide shade from the scorching sun and a supply of fresh, cool air. Both my lungs and my spirit love it.
And then suddenly a wooden signboard shows that Kumali is just a short distance away. The crew is successful and we can see Standing Indian in the distance. At this point, Springer Mountain is no longer visible. It feels amazing that that ordinary little me just walked 200 miles. But I have it. And I’m about to do it 10 more times.
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