Day 31, Friday, October 2, 2020

Peck’s Corner Shelter to Mt. Collins Shelter

Mile 329.7

Miles Hiked: 17.1 total, mostly uphill

For the second night in a row, at Peck’s Corner Shelter, I had the joint to myself…just one other couple who disappeared, probably to camp at the nicest spot down by the spring. I chose a site closer to the bear cables. And the privy. And the exit ramp.

COVID LONELY SYNDROME IS A THING, NOW

Peck’s Corner Shelter is .4 miles off the main trail. When I got up to the trail, I ran into a very talkative woman who got caught in the dark and set up her tent in the middle of the trail. She talked like we’d survived the apocalypse and had just found each other after months of being alone. I knew I had a big uphill day and she was still talking even as I was walking away wishing her luck.

Later, I coined a name for this awkward rush into post-apocalypse conversation…CLS. Covid Lonely Syndrome.

It hit me at the end of the day at the Mt. Collins Shelter, where I was decidedly NOT alone. There was a crowd of eight, all of us gathered at the table for dinner, trying to tell our stories, interrupting each other, rusty at small talk, out of practice, struggling to find the conversational flow.

One hiker said it best when she said, “I haven’t met any new people in so long, I’ve lost all my social skills.”

REMEMBERING WHY I HIKE THE AT

Soon enough, though, everyone found their footing and I remembered what I love about hiking the AT—laughter, camaraderie, being in the place where I feel most like myself, most like I belong.

REMEMBERING WHY I DON’T HIKE THE AT

One hundred percent the opposite of what I felt at Charlie’s Bunion and Newfound Gap earlier in the day. My God, there were sooooooo many people.

Standing room only at Charlie’s Bunion.

A parade through Icewater Spring Shelter (with one nature neophyte running around looking for the trash can, unclear on the concept of “Pack it In, Pack it Out.”

A circus at Newfound Gap, with cars circling the parking lot like vultures, waiting to pounce on the next open spot. I masked up and used the facility and skedaddled as fast as I possibly could.

But, in all fairness, my friend U-Turn was right…the Smokies are beautiful. Every day, several spectacular views. Every day, a handful of new colors I’ve never seen before.

So there’s that.