McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 8/09/2024 | AT Mile 59.7 | Day Total: 7.9 miles | Gain: 623 ft

It sprinkled throughout the night and got heavier in the morning. Packed up wet and in the rain. Got an earlier start to the day to secure a shelter for the night. Maddy’s having some pain in her upper quad so we’re hopeful a short and flat day will reduce pain.

Maddy and Noah were first to leave camp, followed by Cole then Nathan and I. Packing up in the rain is not very fun but we’re making the best of it.

Today’s Noah’s birthday! The big 21. Cole Nathan and I have got a surprise for him tonight.

Started walking around 8 and really didn’t stop till the shelter. I stoped a few times to admire the ponds and peaceful rain patter. It’s really enjoyable if you ignore the wetness.

We passed one of the only logging roads where people can choose to do a food drop half way through the 100 mile wilderness. We opted to carry it all, but we could have started with 10 less lbs of food if we did. The pack is definitely lighter now. My shoulders were not happy when we started with all 20lbs of food.

Cole was the first to Copper Brook Falls Lean-to. I was 30 min behind him. He sped ran all 7.9 miles today. Nathan was just behind me. Then Maddy and Noah a bit later.

There were two hikers, both nobo, taking shelter waiting for the rain to pass. It’s supposed to hold up for a little in the afternoon then pick back up tonight. They were pretty quiet wrapped in their sleeping bags. Between the rain the cooler weather it makes you pretty chilly.

Maddy pulled out a large honeybun and two snapped candles out of her hip belt pocket today for Noah’s birthday. We celebrated and sang while we watched the candle burn all the way down.

We’ve been passing time by doing group yoga, running around the shelter, snacking, Rose Bud Throne and chatting with other hikers. Ian is also in the shelter with us tonight.

A guy stoped by the shelter with a bag that’s probably half the size of mine. He started the AT in June and is nearly done. When he first started he aimed for doing the whole trail in 60 days! But had a fall and had to take 2 zeros, so now he’s “taking his time”. He was doing high 30’s (miles) in the southern partition of the trail. He’s taking 3 days of food through the 100 mile wilderness.

Lots of people at the campsite tonight, probably over a dozen tents. We got to talk with others as they ate dinner at the shelter and later took refuge in their tent.

Pearl couscous, bacon bits and parm were on the menu for tonight’s dinner. It was yummy. Foods starting to taste really good, probably because we’re hungry and burning lots of calories.

Just before bed we exchanged some jokes. One in particular from Maddy stumped us for a bit: Two penguins are paddling a canoe in the desert. One says “where’s the paddle” the other says “sure does!”.

Nighty night.