McAfee Hikes

Date Written: 11/02/2024 | AT Mile 1540.4 | Day Total: 12.7 miles | Gain: 2687 ft

Woke up this morning and it was still dark but I could tell it was going to be light soon. I turned more than I usually do last night, waking up every so often.

A hunter walked through camp with a headlamp on this morning. We didn’t exchange any words. Glad I have my little orange cloth on my bag.

Dad made some coffee with the press this morning. It was a bit messy but I had a nice cup of joe with creamer. Beats the instant coffee by a landslide. After we ate and packed up we took a quick selfie by the shelter before starting our day.

We loaded up on water this morning. While there are a bunch of water sources on the map they are all currently dry. We won’t have water for the first 9 miles today. Luckily it pretty cool and perfect hiking temperature.

Started the day with a big climb up to Wind Rock. Climb was fairly steep and had a rockiness similar to Pennsylvania. We took some quick breaks on the way up. Lots of pretty laurel through this area as well.

I really enjoyed catching up with them while we walked. There something about being in the woods that brings out old stories that I’ve never heard before.

After climbing for a while we made it to Wind Rock. The view from here was top notch. We took a packs off break at the view and soaked it in. Snapped a bunch of pictures as well.

We hiked along the ridge for the next few miles. We ate lunch around a small rock overhang with good sitting rocks.

Once we began hiking down the ridge there was a section of tall skinny trees that were very clearly wind blow. It’s fascinating how they’ve held their shape.

While we walked we stumbled upon a conversation about food dye and how Doritos had made a limited edition chip bag within the orange dye at one point years ago. The chips were white. What interested me is how they use the orange powder covered fingers as a marketing strategy. I recalled a commercial, honestly one of the funniest I’ve ever seen. It’s called “Doritos finger cleaner” and it’s from the Super Bowl in 2014. I took a quick recording of the video so we can watch it while we ate dinner tonight.

We took a packs off snack break mid afternoon as we hiked down into the valley.

Lots of Laurel here as well. We were frequently walking through a tunnel of it. We hiked up and down some puds visiting Stony Creek 3 different times. Before the first pud we crossed Stony Creek over a wooden bridge.

As we got closer to Pine Swamp Branch Shelter the sun was low in the sky. I got a fun picture of mom with sun rays all over.

We made it to the shelter with some daylight left to spare. I went and filter a bunch of water while my dad gathered some wood for a fire. The shelter we’re in tonight had a stone fireplace in it. I’ve only seen a few with fireplaces so far.

Two gentlemen showed up at the shelter when it was twilight. One of them wasn’t feeling good, he thinks it has to do with some marinara packets he had for lunch.

We cooked some dinner at the picnic table and talked with them for a while. One of them was setting up his hammock just behind the shelter. Says he doesn’t have an under quilt but apparently stays warm enough. Dad started a small fire in the shelter and we continued talking around it before heading to bed. I’m on the top bunk tonight. There’s no ladder to the top and it’s like 2ft from the ceiling so it’s difficult to get up without bumping your head. I suspect someone thought the ladder would make good firewood…