“Scribblings of a Cold Tent”

AT Day 103; LT Day 16

Miles Today: 22.37

LT Mile: 248.8

(Tillotson Camp [tent])

It’s amazing how quickly the temperatures have changed! It finally feels as if we’re close to Canada and not just lost in an endless summer heatwave.

I’m curled up in my tent tonight, bundled up in most of my layers and with the tent vestibule door zipped to keep the warm air inside. Somehow the inside of the three-walled shelters is comparatively warm compared to the open air elsewhere about the forest. Last night I was alone in the Round Top shelter while Plinko camped nearby. He shuddered all through the night while I had to strip off a layer so as to keep from sweating. The same is true tonight. But I set my tent as I don’t like camping in shelters with other hikers. I toss and turn a lot through the night, and it makes me self conscious being on my loud sleeping pad in a shared shelter, so I mostly camp in my tent like tonight.

It’s hard to believe that within the last month it was so hot I could barely sleep through it and now, still in the month of July, I feel like it’s already fall.

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I took two hard falls today.

Again, I never fell in trail before the AT, and even that only dropped me a couple times over 1,800 miles. But the Long Trail lays me out a couple of times a day.

I’m fortunate that I haven’t been hurt in any of them. Plinko fit his hand and then fell on that same hand again today. He’s been hurt worse than I have along the way. The soles of his shoes seem not to as good as well on these slick rocks of the Long Trail.

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Temps and weather were good today. It felt amazing to have cooler air and a breeze! It’s incredible just how much that can make a difference in disposition. I might go so far as to say that I actually enjoyed myself and the hiking today.

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Got my first views of Canada today from the top of a tower this afternoon.

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Falling asleep as I’m writing. Barely able to hold my phone right now.

Good night.

Wormwood.