AT 2025, Day 6: I Know How I'll Spend my Gear Nerd Winter!
Chestnut Knob Shelter, a classic.
Day 5, Sunday, 5.5.2024
Start: M. 558.9, Stealth site at Possum Creek
End: M. 6:571.5, Burke's Garden Hostel
Miles Hiked: 12.6
Total Miles: 69.1
Elevation Gain: 3,776 feet
5:30 am wake up call:
WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL! WHIP-POOR-WILL!
Thankfully, he was quiet throughout the night. That’s not how they always roll and ear plugs are pervious to their racket.
Keep running into Shepherd and his flock throughout the day—at the shelter, at the Lickskillet Creek ford, at the dirt road crossing where I dried my wet AF stuff, at the Chestnut Knob Shelter.
Day in the life of a long distance hiker—drying out after a rain-soaked day and night.
Sat at the picnic table at Chestnut Knob and watched the rain showers pop up here and there down in the Burke’s Garden valley.
Tried, and failed, to outhike one of those showers on the way up the the knob. But when it finally caught up to me it had nothing left but a few scattered drops. Not enough to even spin my hat around to keep water off my glasses.
This is whatever the opposite of storm-chaser is. Maybe storm-dodger?
Watching the storms down in Burke’s Garden.
This is what “scattered showers” looks like from a smug, dry perch in the sky.
Had a chance to get to know the hikers of the flock (I don’t know if that’s what they call their tramily, but that’s what I’m calling it). Luna makes his own gear and now I’m excited to go home and make some gear, too.
He shared some resources including Learn MYOG (for patterns, how-to resources and inspiration), Ripstop by the Roll (for patterns and technical fabrics, including fabric you can print with your own designs!) and Stitchback Gear (for patterns). I know how I’ll be spending the winter!!!
Spend the night at Burke’s Garden Hostel, where I’ve got the bougie private room. It’s just me and Badger, who I met on trail today, and Gov here tonight, hanging out on the porch, eating chicken pot pies.
Still smug in the valley…Burke’s Garden is Top Ten!
