IAT ’20 “Ice Cream & River Water”

Day #2 Mile 13.4 to mile 30.3 stealth site

July 19, 2020

We had set the alarm for 4:30 this morning thinking we’d beat the mosquitoes (and wanted to get off of private property before someone came through and found us). We succeeded in one of the two. As soon as we started moving around, I could hear the mosquitoes return and swarm outside the tent door. We unzipped the tent and immediately felt their tiny bites as they began landing on us, although not quite in the numbers of yesterday.

At least the sunrise was pretty coming through the fields

I was struggling, but they eased up off and on depending on whether there was a breeze or not and which direction it was blowing. Our first climb of the trail was this morning and it was easy compared to any climb we were used to on the AT. Most of it was on gravel windmill roads and there was a nice breeze cooling our sweat and shooing away mosquitoes. We cruised along all day and at the top of the mountain, stopped to dry our gear out that was wet with dew.

We ate lunch and pushed on, eventually walking through the town of Mars Hill. The town was very small and rural and I loved it. The trail goes right past an IGA with a nice gazebo out back so of course we stopped. I went in and grabbed some bug spray with the highest percent of Deet I could find as well as a half gallon of ice cream which we ate in the gazebo while on the phone with Beet (Cobra’s brother). After digesting for awhile, we started off again before finding a river to wash ourselves and rinse our clothes. We snacked and sat on the rocks and dried in the sun, our wet clothes splayed on every available surface and drying quickly.

The rest of the day was completely flat on an ATV trail. I felt my pack beginning to rub a rash on my back and the blisters on my feet were throbbing but we ended up doing 17 miles today so that’s to be expected. Today was 100x better than yesterday and that’s why I love this trail. It won’t give you shit without giving you something later to make up for it in return.

Day 2 and my body already hates me

Currently camped in an abandoned construction site outside of the town of Bridgewater. I actually love this site and feel much safer and less likely to be bothered here than where we camped last night. Some quads drove by since we've been here but we're well hidden behind an old trailer and I don't think any of them have even seen us. We’ve been chilling, enjoying each others company and laughing. I called Mom, Gagoo, and Pap. I always say I love being independent but I really am glad that I have my best friend to share this with.