Day 95 – Pine Grove Furnace to Alec Kennedy shelter

“A better rain

The kind that comes in off the coast and paints the sky

And lets you know that God’s alive

A better rain

That’ll wash me from your eyes so you can smile again

And be all right again

In a better rain” – George Straight 

Up at 7:10. On trail at 8:15. We have 15.5 miles today with a resupply break at mile 8.5. We also have our first BIG rock scramble late in the day.

Mid 80s, humid, 35% chance of rain mid-afternoon.  We NEED the rain badly!

Stopped for a quick break at 9:40.

Stopped for a break at 11:15. Back is hurting.:(

Got to Green Mountain store at 12:40. Lunch, coffee, small resupply, and a takeout sandwich for dinner. Somebody ran a car into the building last week and took out the front steps.

Got about 6.8 miles to the shelter for tonight. Saw the extended tramily leaving the store as we were approaching. We will all be at the same shelter tonight. Back on trail at 1:45. Nice break.

Stopped for a break at 2:40. Nice logs.

Trail magic at 3:00!!!

Tough vertical up to a big rock scramble. Fun!

Stopped to get 4 liters of water .1 miles before shelter. Hustled to shelter and set up tent trying to beat the storm. I got my tent set up just as the rain started. Roughly 6:30. 

Ate my chicken cheesesteak in tent while heavy rain came down. It’s like a sauna in the tent. Moved to shelter to hang out till dark. Still raining on and off but hopefully it will cool off and the breeze will kick up.

Very full shelter. Hung out till about 9:00, then back to the tent to get settled in for the night. I’ll definitely be using my fan tonight. Fortunately, I have full battery banks thanks to the hostel last night.

We have 4 miles to go to get to Boiling Springs. Hope to be there for breakfast at 9:00 a.m.

Technical Notes:

• Pop-Tart 370
• Pop-Tart 370
• Skittles 75
• Zero-Sugar Sausage 120
• Skittles 75
• Ham, Egg, Cheese Sandwich 600
• Twix 440
• Coffee 40
• Reese’s Cups 400
• Body Armor Lyte 15
• Beef Stick 150
• Chicken Cheese Steak 650
• Skittles 100
• Pringles 370
• Misc 225
• Water liters 5
• Miles 15.6
• Time 9
• Elevation gain 2528
• Calories consumed 4000
• Calories burned 6500