We hadn’t resupplied last night so this morning was resupply morning. I headed over to food lion first thing to do the deed. 

Food resupply is probably my most stressful part of this hike. When you go to the grocery store, you need to make sure you have enough food to keep you alive over the next few days until youre able to get to the next town. But you also don’t want to buy too much, where it just weighs down your pack. Also you need to find enough protein. You need to buy the electrolyte mix with the most sodium. You need to remember to buy the toothpaste you just ran out of or you won’t brush you teeth until you get to the next town and your teeth will fall out. And on and on and on. 

As per usual, it took me close to an hour to go through the full process. I picked up items and put them back when i realized they weighed too much or didn’t have the right caloric break down. But when I was finally satisfied, I grabbed one more item before hitting the check out – a pint of talenti gelato. 

That may seem crazy but the best way to cold soak, is in a talenti jar. They weigh nothing and the seals are water tight. I’ve had one since Damascus but decided I should get a new one to keep germs at bay. Plus it meant I got to eat a pint of coffee chocolate chip gelato for breakfast. 

Shockingly, by the time I was on the trail post gelato, I felt sluggish. It was our first big climb in a while and my legs weren’t there. It’s not that they hurt or I couldn’t do it. It’s just that I couldn’t get any speed as I walked. So I settled into a slow pace and meandered upwards. 

After a lunch atop a boulder with 360 degree views of the valleys around me, I caught up to 62 and Spudz. They told me that the other night, a bear had gotten closer and closer to spudz’ tent. He had tried to ignore it until the bear leaned against it and he had no choice but to call out to 62 who scared the bear off. But not before it put a claw mark into Spudz’ tent. He told me he wasn’t about to camp alone for a while after that one. Can’t blame him. 

Then a few minutes later I passed a hiker coming the other direction who told me to be careful. He had just seen a bear rummaging around through the bushes a couple miles back. I guess we’re back in bear country! 

I camped with woodsman and Kyle and his dad, who I had not seen since day 4. It was good to see them and to know that they were still out here. We built another great fire and then made sure to do great bear hangs – far away from camp. 

Key stats:

Miles: 15

Elevation gained: 4,000 ft

Mile marker: 653

Times I regretted eating a pint of ice cream for breakfast: 0