Miles: 5.3 (plus .2 side trip)
Days like today make me not-so-sad about leaving the Trail. We didn't get started until 11:15, mainly because all of us were dragging from yesterday. The plan was to hike for 12 miles, but the bugs, heat, humidity, mud and constant uphill changed that.
We had a miserable day hiking, with Kevin taking it especially rough. He has this random rash that developed all over his back and he can't stop scratching. Medicine Man thinks it' s probably heat rash. Yuck. After dragging our wet boots through countless mud pits, we finally made it to Smart Mountain.
I think the terrain is psychologically hard for us. We were all pumped for easy, flat terrain where you can get in 30 miles - no sweat. Right. I think that sidewalk exists somewhere in Virginia, but definitely not here. The terrain is easier, but it's still harder than what I had psyched myself into while hiking the Whites.
After an hour long lunch break, we decided to stay. We could have gotten into the next shelter around 8 and would've been dog tired - again. So, as the saying goes, we're not going to let hiking get in the way of having fun.
We had a relaxing evening with Medicine Man, Sunshine and Cadence to make up for the sucky hiking.
- Icky Bobo