July 15 – Unionville, NY – Back Track Inn (Day 118 – milepoint 1318.6)

Possibly my toughest day on the Trail so far. I didn’t sleep at all last night as mosquitoes buzzed my ears and ate me alive all night. A slap in the face for sending my tent home.

Packed up and started walking well before sunrise and found a small fire tower a few miles along where I climbed up to a small platform and napped for a half hour. Nice breeze kept the mosquitoes off.

Very rocky terrain put a lot of stress on my already tired ankles, and the rising heat and humidity beat down on my tired body. Stumbled into High Point State Park Headquarters where I found a bathroom, placed my head in a sink and ran the cold water for a while. Had some lunch and then took a 3-hour nap under a red maple tree next to a frog pond. Went the next eight miles drinking massive amounts of water, sweating profusely, my shirt and shorts dripping as if I had just dove into a lake fully clothed.

I arrived alive though. This “hostel” at the Back Track Inn is no more than an old storage room with four supply shelves converted to bunks. Strangely acceptable. The Inn has a bar and a nice bartender who set me up with a shower and a really fat cheeseburger. I think she felt sorry for me.

I’m joined by Boji (50′s, Omaha), who I haven’t seen since the Smokies, and Tony (40′s, Plymouth, Mass), a southbound section hiker who gave us the rest of his pizza!

I learned it was 105 degrees today. I haven’t peed since yesterday afternoon.

Aquaholic