McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 9/13/2024 | AT Mile 577.8 | Day Total: 21.0 miles | Gain: 4191 ft

This is the second time I’ve written today’s journal… my notes app didn’t save it when I when went back to the notes home page. Good bye 1hour of sleep…

Sleep like a rock last night until 5:30 this morning. I had my alarm set of 6 but was wide awake. We are heading back to the trailhead at 7:15 this morning.

I went and put my contacts in and started a pot of coffee. I pulled out a pan to cook my bacon for breakfast. They have a gas stove which is really nice. While the bacon cooked I mixed up some pancake batter and drank some coffee. Once the bacon was finished I poured most of the grease into a cup but left some for the first pancake for added flavor.

I devoured three pancakes, the bacon and two cups of coffee. Afterword I finished packing and striped my bed. Last night I had Jerry-rigged a fan on a hook at the foot of my bed. It was wonderful. I had used the top bunks extension cord so I also disassembled that.

At 7:15 sharp Bill Kill and I jumped into the shuttle for the short drive to the trailhead. Great stay at the Wicked Waystation! This place may be the best hostel I’ve stayed at.

The first few miles this morning flew by. The leaves have changed to a red color at a snap of a finger. It’s hard to see it in the “green tunnel” but there are colored leaves on the ground and the views have red hues.

It was about four miles to the first shelter where I filtered some water. I had only drank those two cups of coffee this morning so I downed a bottle while I was at the spring.

Just after the shelter there was a nice view of a beaver bog. Look closely and you can see some red leaves.

I took another break at Kid Gore shelter. Directly from the front of the shelter there’s a view. This would have made a great place to stay.

I planned to eat lunch on top of Glastonbury mountain. There’s a fire tower up there but when I arrived the first set of stairs was removed. There was a sign stating it was closed in 2022 because it didn’t pass inspection. They hope to repair and reopen it sometime but sounds like they are waiting for funds.

I ate lunch up against one of the concrete footers while I was eating. I found a few small old bolts and nuts on the ground…. Probably a good thing it’s closed. I also browsed FarOut and read a comment on the shelter I’m planning to stay at tonight. It reads “9/13- There was a bear pretty comfortable approaching the picnic table while someone ate breakfast around 8am. Eventually got him to spook.” Definitely going to have to be careful tonight…

There’s a shelter .3 miles away, Goddard Shelter, with a nice piped spring. There was a woman there also filtering water. She stayed at the “bear shelter” last night and said there was no bear problems until the morning. But she had seen it.

This afternoon I passed a few small viewing points but they both were pretty obstructed.

About two miles away from the shelter I’m planning on staying tonight I meet two AT flip floppers. They said Reroll had messaged them and said “two fast sobos” Bill Kill and I were heading their way. They were also planning on staying at the “bear shelter” tonight but hadn’t heard of the comment this morning yet so I filled them in.

I knew I was close when I passed the power lines. They offered some of the best views of the afternoon.

When I walked up to the shelter there were already 3 section hikers setup inside. They hadn’t heard the bear news yet so I told them about it. They didn’t show too much concern but said they would definitely hang their food tonight unlike they normally do.

I decided to walk down a bit to a few tent spots and set up there. I hung my line for my food on a tall branch away from camp. After getting setup I went over to the shelter to cook dinner. The 3 section hikers, Bill Kill and I talked while we ate.

Hopefully there no bear store in tonight or in the morning… fingers crossed.

As I’m rewriting this for the second time tonight there are fireworks being shot off in the distance. I can’t see them but I can definitely hear them and the cars driving down the road in the valley.