5/2/12 – 300 miles.
I have a blister on my heal. It feels like a tack in my shoe every time I step. Everyone says to puncture it with a needle but I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do. I don’t want to get it infected.
Today was another hot one. My thermometer said it was 85 degrees and I know the humidity was way up there. Some of the trail ran high on mountain tops for part of the day, exposing me to relentless sunshine, baking the back of my neck, drawing the moisture from my body. It always seem that when it gets this hot there is never a breeze to cool you down.
I hiked over a particularly interesting and difficult section of the AT called Big Firescald Knob – I say hiked but it was more of a rock scramble – and had beautiful 360 degree views from the cliff tops.
For part of the day I hiked with a man with the trailname “Chicken Feathers.” He is 68 and a super strong walker. On the hills he leaves me behind. I’m trying to take it easy but Erwin is still 40 miles away and I only have enough food for three days, so I have to keep up a certain pace. None of my friends from before Hot Springs have caught up. They are probably suffering with the heat as well.
I’m tenting near a shelter again tonight. I get the best sleep in my tent so its worth the hassle of sometimes packing it wet. Last night we had a heavy dew. Hopefully tonight will be dryer.