I woke up feeling more rested than I had since I started the trail. My sleeping pad was still uncomfortable, but I was adjusting to this lifestyle. I wasn’t cold. I packed up my tent and gear more quickly. The trail is a hard headmistress, she teaches you hard lessons, her punishments severe. In just a couple of days I have learned so much.

Organization has never been my strong point. But the trail taught me that out here I have to be. If you pack your pack the same way each day, you don’t have to search for things, it’s easier and quicker to pack and unpack if you develop a system. If you put up and take down your tent the same way each time, you aren’t likely to leave tent stakes behind, your pitch will be better and faster. You have to plan ahead when you filter water. If you don’t plan you are likely to carry too much, or worse, not enough, to get you to the next water source. The list goes on and on. I try not to make the same mistakes twice

We started down the steep descent to Gooch Gap. As we rounded the bend we were greeted by a big cooler full of soft drinks, beer, and cold cheeseburgers. It was a sight for sore eyes. It was 7:30 in the morning, but a cold beer and a cold cheese burger was just what the doctor ordered. Everyone was smiling, it’s a marvel that there are still people that find joy in doing good deeds for other people that they don’t know, and will likely never meet. As the saying goes, “the trail provides”.

Within an hour we were ascending RamRock Mountain. The clouds were lifting, still cloudy but we looked forward to the views. The trail was tough, we descended the mountain and staggered to the campground. There were only a few campsites, we tried to leave as much space for other hikers as we could but knew there would be those who were forced to keep going once the spaces were all taken.

We spent an uneventful night. The weather was warm and sleep came quickly.