The weather stayed cool last night and I slept great. Well, trail great. I was still up for a few hours in the middle of the night. But when I wasn’t awake, I was in a deep deep dreamless sleep. It was a far cry from some of my recent sleepless nights. 

It was close to 7:30 when I got out of bed and out on my clothes that, thanks to the humidity, seemed to be wetter than when I had hung them to dry. I grimaced as I put on my wet shirt and made an audible groan as I pulled up the wet pants. It was a rough start to the day. 

But it was all uphill after that. Literally. (I’m ashamed that this is my first time making this joke. I promise to do better going forwards.) the first two miles out of camp were a continuous, but not steep climb. But as the sounds of road noise got closer, so did my future bacon egg and cheese. 

Just off the trail was a deli and I walked in for my bacon egg and cheese (salt, pepper, hot sauce and hashbrowns) and for my Gatorade. And then another Gatorade. And then another. All this sweating has left me incredibly dehydrated so I figured any chance to rehydrate would be a good thing. Plus the Gatorade was delicious. 

From breakfast, it was only 8 miles until the trail magic I knew was being set up. My mom and sister had come in with sodas, Gatorade, chips and fruit. The snacks were delicious, the drinks were cold and it was great to see them – even if I did show up once again dripping sweat. 

We sat in the woods chatting and eating for a while serving the only one other hiker who came by (tough day to be a trail angel) before it was time to continue on. So with that, I headed on. But I brought a passenger with me. Kate joined ror the last stretch. 

It was great to have her out there with me as we caught up and walked around Nuclear Lake (apparently it was the site of a plutonium spill years back. You’re encouraged to not drink the water). We only walked another 5 miles or so but it was lovely – and a great foreshadowing of what’s to come when she joins for a weekend in a few weeks! 

From there it was off to a hotel for a shower (a long, cold shower) and then dinner where my high school friend Dylan and college / grad school friend Jack joined as well. It was a great day full of bringing old friends into this new adventure. Tomorrow my older sister will come out to hike for a bit to complete the family-palooza! 

Key stats:

Miles: 15  

Elevation gained: 2500 ft

Mile marker: 1452

Rosenbergs on trail: 4