Shaker Campsite 1542.8 to The Cookie Lady 1563.8 (21 miles, 538.4 total miles)
This morning I got up before everyone else, except a couple of the section hikers who were camped nearby. It had rained all night from 8 PM and most of the morning, however when I got up just after 5 AM, the rain had really calm down.
Usually it takes me an hour and a half in the morning to break camp and be packed and ready to go, but this morning I was ready in 50 minutes, and I was hiking out at exactly 6 AM. None of the rest of the Cult had gotten up by that point, but I knew leaving early was the only way I could sustain all the miles we had planned this week.
It was dark under the canopy of trees, though the trail popped me into fields regularly, where things brightened up. There was more pine forest, and ferns that grew up to my waist. At the top of Tyringham Cobble, I had second breakfast, which was three packets of oatmeal that I cold soaked for a few minutes. For first breakfast I’d had the sandwich that Piñata was nice enough to make for me yesterday, with the food that Trunks had brought.
I descended from the Cobble, then climbed up to the ridge. My ankles were definitely feeling sore from trying to break in the boots, but my heel was still feeling good. Baked Potato said he’d meet me later in the day or tomorrow morning with my Hokas, so I could try them with the new insoles and see how those felt.
The boots were feeling very heavy, and my body pace was much slower than the day before. The terrain was just little ups and downs once I climbed to the ridge. The day was cloudy, wet, and a little chilly. I passed Upper Goose Pond, and sat by it for a bit eating a Larabar with some Rx butter
I took a lot of breaks all morning, feeling extra tired. Piñata and Neon caught up with me and passed me about a half mile before the lunch spot. I’d stayed ahead of them for 11 miles, but they’d left two hours after me, so that wasn’t much of an accomplishment. However, my plan of leaving early had been a good one, apparently.
At the lunch spot, just after the interstate bridge crossing, Speedgoat, Jedi, and Riveter walked up right as I got there as well. We sat and ate lunch, and I contemplated the 9.5 miles still to go. One very large ascent, then flat-ish ridge running to the Cookie Lady, where we were camping.
I hiked with everyone except Piñata, who stayed behind, and kept on Jedi’s heels all the way up the 1.5 mile steep incline. I had a great time talking and joking with the others as we hiked, and stayed with them for an hour and a half, which was 4 miles.
After I dropped back, I took a 15 minute break to eat a caffeine Clif bar and rest my feet. They were hurting in the boots, specifically some tendons near my ankles that have been bothering me since the beginning.
From there, I hiked the remaining 5.5 by myself, which wasn’t too bad. I hiked steadily, and listened to podcasts and music, trying to concentrate on hiking from one white blaze or landmark to the next, not thinking about the total miles left to go.
The trail was still wet, with lots of snails and efts hanging around. The boots were nice for the strong treads that didn’t slide on the wet rocks, and the waterproofing that made it so I could walk in the mud without a care for getting my feet wet.
For the last .7, I had enough service to call Malia and chat with her for a bit, to pass the time and check in. I got to camp at 5:30, which was perfect. Wizard, Platinum, and Piñata arrived a little after me, and we had a whole tent city going on in the yard.
The Cookie Lady was a woman who used to supply hikers with homemade cookies at a house just off trail. After she passed, another family moved in and took it over, continuing the tradition, still being called the Cookie Lady.
The family was absolutely sweet and so kind, providing lots of cookies, tent space, hibiscus lemonade, dogs to hang with, and a port-o-potty. Plat and Wizard also showed up with The Mayor (trail name), who thru hiked last year and brought us a bunch of fruit and food. I had a very big, filling dinner.
Tater came by around 8 to bring me my Hokas, which was really awesome of him. I’m going to try the new insoles in those shoes and see how they feel. The boots are just too heavy, which is why most hikers don’t use them. However, I am glad I gave it a try. Wizard even gifted me a lightweight cork ball to massage my feet with, which definitely seemed to help.
It was a long, but rewarding day. Tomorrow will be another long day, but if I leave early and hike long not fast, I should be okay. I’m excited to be back in my trail runners, and hope the new insoles continue to keep the heel pain at bay.