Miles Today: 16.7
Mile Marker: 518.4
I woke up this morning to a bit of sunshine and a mostly dry tent. It rained heavily last night, so I was glad to see the dry rainfly. Once again it started to pour as I started hiking. About 4 miles in I ran into a group of 3 guys heading South who said “Eggs, bacon, and beer” and pointed behind them. I quickened my pace and made it down the hill just as the rain took a break. The guys running Trail Magic had a massive setup with a grill, several ice chests, tons of chairs, and tarps covering everything. They told me I had just missed breakfast burritos and it would be a while for lunch, but to snack on whatever I could find. I was eating some little Debbie's and chips when one of the guys offered me some cherries from a jar. One whiff confirmed my suspicions. More moonshine. Then one of the guys realized they had a pot of boiling water still on the fire, so he threw in some hot dogs for me. I hung around for a bit snacking and eating a couple of hot dogs before I headed back out.
The rain must have sensed my unabated forward progress because it came back in full force. It rained for the next several hours until I got to a shelter with some other hikers and took a break. They all decided to stay there for the night, but I pressed on. Thankfully the rain transitioned to light misting the rest of the way. I was able to get my target mileage in, find a campsite with water, and set up while it is still dry. I got dinner cooked too, but it started to rain again before I could eat. Dinner in the tent again. Tonight and tomorrow hold a forecast of 100% rain with 2 to 3 inches expected. It also says “The rain could be heavy at times.” I can't wait…