Day Eight

First of all, there was no rain in the forecast so I left my pack uncovered. That’s why I was up at 4:45 when I heard the rain start. I pulled my pack under my tarp and tried to go back to sleep, but couldn’t so I got up. It was 5:10. I made breakfast by headlamp and the rain tapered off. By 6:15 I was fed and on the trail.

About a mile on there was a fork in the trail. When I checked the map the left trail joined a road and went the same place the right trail did in 2 miles while the right trail took 5. I shouldn’t have taken the left, but I did.

It did join a dirt road that forded a creek so I forded the creek. That road intersected with another road that would take me where I need to go, but as I started walking the second road I was confronted with No Trespassing signs, Private Road. So I went back across the creek and then bushwhacking up the slope until I got to the OHT. It was a pretty hike and it got me to the 1000 foot climb to the highway.

When I finally reached the pavement it was a short 1 mile walk south to the town of Pelsor. The postmistress had left my resupply box at the little store so I picked it up. I also had a couple of slices of pizza, two Gatorades, and a pint of ice cream. I found out they had a “Warsh House” in a little out building where you could do laundry and get a shower. I did both. So I was clean and well fed when I walked the mile back to the trail and continued east for about 8.5 more miles.

Tonight I am camped in an open grove of cedars which blocks the wind and it very pleasant. Tomorrow is the eclipse and this area should get nearly 4 minutes of totality. Should be interesting.

Of more concern are the following days, Tuesday and Wednesday. Thunderstorms Tuesday are expected to drop 1.7 inches and showers the next day to add an additional 1.4 inches of rain to that. This just as I am getting to the biggest fords of the trail, tributaries flowing into the Buffalo River.

With over 3 inches of rain expected in 48 hours, I have decided to try and use roads to walk around all these fords, which means I will be leaving the trail tomorrow and road walking the rest of my trip.

More tomorrow as the saga continues…

Take care and Happy Trails!