Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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July 11, Phillip's Canyon Spring - mile 1193.4

Wow - almost 20 miles today, & we could have reasonably gone another 4 to make it all the way into town. Although the terrain is rocky here, much of it has been nearly flat so the miles pass a little easier. Anyway, I'm camped along the trail tonight with Crunch, who I've known & hiked on & off with since Georgia. She caught up to me today around noon time & decided to follow the same plan I had, to camp a few miles past that last shelter. My map showed a camp site & spring about 3 miles past, so we carefully followed the map & our watches once we got close.. But we kept walking & walking - - with no camp sites or spring in sight. Finally we have found it, a mile & a half farther than we expected, & our best guess is that the trail has been relocated since the map was printed.

To add insult to injury, the spring here is down the side of the mountain, which is so steep, one nearly needs ropes & climbing gear to get there. I took one look at the trail & decided I would make do with what water I had. It wasn't much, but I figured if I ate a cold supper & reserved a little less than normal for tomorrow's hike, I could make it work. As I started eating, though, I realized I would be much smarter to just go get some more water, no matter how steep. But Crunch , who got 5 liters while she was down there, graciously offered to let me use what I needed to save me that horrible trip. What a saint! I am forever indebted.

How fun - Sticker Dan just arrived to join our happy little campsite. He got a late start this morning because he waited out the rainstorm that came through a mere half hour after I hit the trail. I was quite disgusted with myself, since I originally thought I was doing a short day to the shelter & would have had plenty of time to wait out the rain. But all worked out OK, I got drenched for an hour, but then it cleared & the sun came out & dried me off within a few hours. I did have to doctor the beginnings of a blister from the past couple days of wet socks. but I have a dry pair to wear for the last few miles into town tomorrow & then hopefully two full days to let it dry & heal.