Day 27 - Little Laurel to Hogback Ridge

Today was a long day, although only a mile or so more than yesterday. Just tougher terrain, I guess, and it seemed to go on forever.

We made a lot of little stops, which really add up. I think we only had 8.7 miles to do after 2 p.m., but they were real tough ones. I was on the verge of tears for the last miles, wondering if we were ever going to get to the shelter. Finally arrived at 6.

Murph was there, along with Chops. Charlie had pushed on ahead. A lot of new faces (mostly people who started a week or so before us). If they stay at that pace, we probably won’t see much of them. Others we know are skipping sections of the trail -- Toad, Liverwurst, Nighthawk. I don’t feel the need to do that yet.

Between getting and filtering water, cooking and eating, and setting up the tent, there weren’t many hours of daylight left. I was already dreading another 20-plus mile day. When Murph said she was only going 13 or 15, we jumped at the idea.