I only had to do 12 miles today. And I knew I could. Yesterday had been tough but it also hadn’t been impossible. So I knew I could do the same and a bit more. I just needed to keep moving forward slowly. And so I did. 

There was no doubt when I left camp that today was going to be one of those days which didn’t feel like 1 hike but instead felt like 30,000 individual steps. I didn’t find my rhythm and knew I wasn’t going to find it. I put on my headphones and tried to use anything I could to propel me forward. Music. Podcast. Audiobook. Anything to make the steps flow more fluidly. 

As the sun beat down on me, I kept pushing forward. Every noise in the woods seemed to startle me more than normal. A squirrel rustled the leaves and I jumped. My pole hit a bush and, thinking it was a snake, I ran a few steps down the trail with my heart rate nearing 200 bpm.

But even as I struggled, I could tell I was doing much better than yesterday. It wasn’t easy walking, I was watching every step closely and absolutely dripping sweat, but I noticed my pace was much closer to normal. Just make it to camp, I told myself and, after another nights sleep, I’d be good to go. 

I got to the shelter I had agreed to meet rocket and baby talk at. Given I’m still contagious, I went around back and found an isolated spot to hang up my hammock. From a distance I hung out with them and it felt great to be reunited. It was the reminder I needed that the trail is a marathon. Its much more fun to enjoy it with friends than to try and push through as fast as possible 

We laughed and talked and sat around a campfire that just wouldn’t lite until I felt the urgent need to sleep. I wished them a good night and crawled into my hammock. The words “good night” barely out of my mouth before I was tucked away in bed. 

Key stats:

Miles: 12

Elevation gained: 2,200 ft

Mile marker: 1088

Mood: significantly better