Day 78

Day 79. 8 mile slack pack from McAffee Knob parking lot. Hit 700 trail miles!!! When I did this section of trail in October, this entire 30 ish miles was the hardest I have ever done, and I was in such pain. There was a “scenario” after we got to camp and I was so exhausted I couldn’t participate. Today I felt so good that I actually did an extra 2 miles. I also remember that one of the participants who had hiked years ago said by this time this area was “just another section of trail difficulty wise” and at this point this section almost seems easy, which does delight me. I also remember being in awe of SOBOs who were doing 16 miles and now that is a big day, but a do-able day. I did have a lot of realizations on trail today-when I am the hostel taking a zero or delay because of weather, I want to be hiking. When I am hiking I can’t wait to stop. When I see others slack packing I am so jealous, but when I am actually doing it I feel like I am cheating. I also think the weather messing with my plans has me really frustrated, we worked so hard to get in striking distance of Daleville before trail days, and we would have made it for sure. I was so excited to prove to myself how far I have come since being here last October. Intellectually I know that I am allowed to rest, and enjoy a hike with a slack pack, and that I am capable, but I still seem to have a lot of swirling emotions lately that I don’t know how to reconcile all of them. We did pass Old School, Goodwill and had a nice chat-I hope they got good views off McAfee Knob!!