Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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August 19, Chateauguay Rd - mile 1694

What a long day! I can't believe it took me 10 hours to hike 13 miles today. I had actually planned to go to the next shelter, 6 miles away yet, but there was no way I could possibly have made that today. I guess we're starting to hit some of the steep mountains , at least today was certainly filled with them. The first one of the day was the worst; gaining 1300 feet of elevation in one mile, although my step count put it closer to a mile & a half.

Anyway, I was not in the best mood after spending half my morning on that slope. Then I met two day-hikers who were the kindest, most generous, encouraging fellows I've met. I sat down with them for about half an hour, while they fed me gorp & candy bars & Gatorade, & it turned out they are friends of Gray Panter, who I started with back in Georgia. He sprained his ankle so severely that he had to quit the trail & they said only recently has the swelling gone down, & that's been about 3 months ago. So I left them in a much better mood, & it certainly made the next miles easier.

Tonight I'm camped in a make shift spot alongside a tiny backwoods road, with a SOBO who goes by Moose Killer. It was rather comical when I stumbled in here after 6:00, we both looked at each other & said

"Man, I'm glad you're here". Neither one of us had the energy to go any farther tonight, & as small as this road is, we still have it engrained in us that we should never camp alone by a road. We have been laughing a lot tonight, telling stories about the trail & I must say, it's nice to have the company.