Day 29: Turnarounds

Current Location: Mile 255.7, Roaring Fork Shelter

March 15th,

Today was a strange one.  As I slowly awoke at the Standing Bear Hostel, I figured I'd take the slow route and hike to the nearest Shelter.  A measly 6.9 miles with a decent 2000ish foot climb.  A good day, especially since I was in no rush to Hot Springs.  I meandered out of the hostel sometime around 10am.  Well, after getting to the shelter at 1:30, I decided I couldn't sit all day and do nothing.  So I continued on and pushed to the second Shelter, an additional 8+ miles.  Why not?  Plus I'd get to see Mack's Patch earlier.  

Mack's Patch is a phenomenal bald with amazing views.  Unfortunately I did not have enough water, so I had to push on the shelter.  After making it to the shelter, I realized I had made a $150 mistake.  I dropped a jacket somwhere between the bald and the shelter.  A 2+ mile stretch of AT.  I dropped everything at the shelter and took off with fading sunlight.  I scoured nearly all of it.  It was getting dark and I had to turnaround.   

Not only had my 7 mile day gone to 15+, it was now nearly 20!  Disappointed, angry, and annoyed, I pulled out a candy bar, said fuck it, and demolished it.  

As I sat at the shelter exhausted, I heard two voices approaching.  Two section hikers.  I called out and asked if they had found a jacket.  

"Yes." 

Fuck yes.  Elated.  My $150 mistake became just a 4 mile annoyance.   To the 3 section hikers who saved my sanity, thank you.  Holy shit. Thank you.  

Anyway, I am legimately exhausted and it's time to blast some Childish Gambino and pass out. 

Until tomorrow, 

Big O