Today is an unplanned zero day. I know what you’re thinking, it’s because of my knee. The good news is that it is not. The bad news is, that Suzie, Julia’s cousin, has a son being deployed and she headed home to spend a few days with him. We waited for her husband to pick her up. Today was supposed to be an 11 mile day. There was no way we would make that in a shortened day. It will be a challenge even on an early start day.
We made the most of the extra time. For me, I went through my pack and from the outfitter store, I shipped supplies home. Total weight shipped home was 2.4 pounds. I also threw out about 2 ounces. I did add back in 2.7 ounces. I swapped out my Showers Pass rain pants (that I used on C2C at 13.6 ounces) for something called a Rain Wrap. It looks like an over-sized grocery bag made into a “skirt.” It came highly recommended at the outfitters. The item that I waffled on shipping back were my “camp shoes.” Mine are the equivalent of fancy flip flops (plastic Birkenstock’s that weigh 8.2 ounces). I need arch support, so I can’t just use cheap flip flops. In the end, they made it into the box.
Next up, while at the outfitters, I had someone there check my backpack fit. I really wanted to be sure I had it adjusted properly. The person helping me said I was “close.” I felt better about that, and even better when he made a minor adjustment. Mainly he adjusted a strap that I have a hard time pulling.
Tomorrow Julia and I plan to be out the door early (we are still at the cabin) and do our best to make that 11 mile day.
If you don’t see a post for a few days, it’ll be due to lack of cell service.
Vintage mailbox setup inside the small store at the cabins.
The items I shipped home. There were items I added very late in planning: mittens to go over gloves, down booties for feet and cold nights in sleeping bag, and a collapsible cup.
We ate lunch inside the store at the cabins. Chili dogs & chips. You could also make a bbq sandwich (pulled pork).
The only place along the AT where you walk through a building. It is at the Mountain Crossing outfitters in Neel Gap.