Day 54

This was a LONG day! A new record, actually. Started off leaving a really nice stealth spot and drank my “breakfast of champions” known as Carnation Instant Breakfast with two Starbucks Via Instant Coffee packets. Oh, and don’t forget the honey bun. I came across the tomb for Nick Grindstaff. Born 1851 and died 1923. He was the local hermit in that area and the tombstone reads, “He lived alone, suffered alone and died alone.” Kinda sad. At the next gap, there were two cars next to each other doing Easter Sunday trail magic. I definitely got my fill of treats and soda. Thank you, Richard, Lori and Vern! After that, it was a beautiful open field with dandelions growing everywhere, as well as the barn with the big AT symbol on it. I’ve seen that in so many images, it was nice to see myself. The whole day was flat-ish with ridge walking and when I got to the shelter I wanted to tent at, I still had 5 hours left of daylight. I felt good so I had to push on. I didn’t realize what kind of day it would become from that decision. It was constant ridge walking and every spot I could see to put my tent either had a dead tree over it (widow maker) or already had a tent there. I arrived to a shelter that still had signs from last year that the area was closed due to an aggressive bear. I had just about an hour left of daylight and two other tents were already there so I set up. Earlier, I had made a couple videos to post on Facebook of me “getting my greens” on trail. I ate a dandelion and a wild ramp. Both are completely edible but apparently one of them gave me a bad allergic reaction. The hike to that shelter was rough. My eyesight was skipping and I started to get dizzy. My teeth felt like rubber and my tongue was tingling. I just didn’t feel right. After setting up my tent, I boiled water and soaked my dinner. By the time I went to take a bite, I was a wreck and I couldn’t deal with eating anything. Hiccups started up and wouldn’t stop. I hung my food bag, jumped in my tent and used my phone to look at my face. It was red and puffy and my hands started burning while the rest of me shivered. I popped to Benedryl but I don’t know if those got a chance to help as before I knew it, I barely had my head out of my tent before I was vomiting. Essentially, it was a long night while it was freezing cold and raining as well. Tomorrow will definitely be a short day!

Edit: As I was finishing this up, a couple walked by and the lady is a botanist. I told her what happened and I seems like I poisoned myself. That wasn’t a ramp at all. It was Lily of the Valley. All of those symptoms are what come from eating that plant. In its early stages, it looks just like ramps until it blooms. There are cases of kids dying from eating the berries! It’s a good thing I vomited and got it all out of my system. No more foraging for me! Even the Seek app told me it was a ramp! I was wondering why it didn’t taste like an onion when that’s what everyone says it tastes like. It didn’t taste much like anything so that’s definitely what happened. Look, this journal is something for me to look back on so I’m going to share the stupid along with the hardships and successes. Feel free to rip me apart for eating a plant on trail. I should have known better and I deserve it.