11-4-12

Days since my thruhike began: 200
AT miles hiked today: 18.4
Total AT miles hiked: 1802.5
Miles to complete my thruhike: 381.7

It's my 200th day on the AT and I hiked my 1800th mile today. Wow. Even though I've walked it myself, those numbers are hard to comprehend. We are staying at the Jim and Molly Denton Shelter with tents and tarps up. Eagle Eye had a welcome fire burning when I hiked up to the shelter an hour after dark in the freezing cold. We got ahead of Stonewall because he stayed at the last shelter. I can't believe it's so cold and I'm still doing this, and even enjoying the hiking. It's after dark and in the morning that the cold really hurts. As long as I'm hiking I can mostly stay warm enough, but I have to put on my raincoat as soon as I stop moving, or I start to shiver.

I rolled my ankle again today and, while trying to save the ankle, I plunged face first under the weight of my heavy pack into the leaves and dirt. I lay there, holding my ankle, trapped on my side by my pack. Finally the pain hit and then subsided, so I struggled to get up and had to undo all my straps and leave the pack on the ground in order to get up. I felt helpless, like a turtle on its back. I tested out my ankle and walked it off and kept going five more miles, but I hurt it again and I am walking cautiously. That's it. I need an ankle brace whenever I get to a pharmacy. It was sunny today, but so cold. Tonight it's freezing. My 15 degree down bag and silk sleeping bag liner keep me warm enough, but barely. I'm very happy with both.