The day started out absolutely beautiful. While it did get down to the mid-20s last night, it warmed up pretty fast this morning. We opted to hang around camp for a bit to lay our socks in the sunshine, as they were frozen.
Parts of the trail were still nice and wet, but the sun was out, and it was an absolutely beautiful Valentine’s Day!
We ended up running into Fancy Pants! I was hoping we would finally get to meet! She has been authorized to call Suspenders by his first “trail name” (I say that in quotes because I called him this as a joke before he got his actual trail name), Sir Fartsalot. It was a short visit, but we hope to see her on the AT, as she is also attempting BamaToBaxter like we are!
It wasn’t too much after that I spotted a side trail that led to a nice view.
We started making our way down to the road crossing when we came upon a very muddy, ankle-deep water part of the trail. While trying to keep my feet dry, I lost my balance, and then I began to slide down the hill on my backside as if it were a slide. Jerry blindly followed, assuming I had done this on purpose.
We eventually slid down to the trail (this was a switchback) and continued walking through water and mud and made it to Snake Creek Gap, which had trash cans and bathrooms.
Suspenders developed severe Achilles pain, making it difficult for him to walk. So we decided to take a break to see if it would go away before heading to Pilcher’s Pond (we had planned to go into town tonight as severe weather was supposed to be coming through). His back had also been giving him some pain today, but that happens, as he has back problems.
Well, the pain didn’t let up, so we decided to call it a short day, and thank goodness we did!
His back pain got worse, so much so that he started throwing up, and he could not stand up straight. He has had kidney stones in the past, and he was pretty sure he now had another one. I ended up calling 911, and the ambulance took him to the hospital, where he was still continuing to puke.
He ended up having a large kidney stone that might require surgery. They gave him several medications, and that next morning we were in a rental car headed home in the event he couldn’t pass it and needed surgery. He eventually passed 14 stones (the large stone had broken up).
We will return to the Pinhoti to finish it, so stay tuned….
Leave a Comment or Suggestion