Summary: wake up completely alone near old and new AT routes split. Proceed North to another split and take Bemis Tr. This portion was new and never explored before. By 15:30 emerge on 4-wheels Bemis Rd. and walk 1 mi to return to AT and cross Bemis Stream to find an undesignated camping spot with a great view.
06:36 – wake up in my hammock after a cold night. During the night I woke up once at 02:37. The sky was full of stars. I was thinking of waking up today on 5/17 at 05:17 but stayed in my hammock. The sun is already out in the open. The wind is distinctly audible high at the tops of the trees.
07:29 – slow process of breaking the camp. All my things are spread on a tarp. Around here, I discovered 4 or 5 sites. It seems less than I was counting 4 years ago. Although, I did not explore thoroughly. While packing, I am still finishing up my porridge from home. Blueberries and pistachios are amazing.
08:32 – start hiking north towards route 17. Small patches of snow are still visible along the trail.
09:58 – 10:19 – walked 0.7 mi – 17°C – I am at the famous bench with a view. I am sitting right on the ground and drying my sandals, socks and feet in the sun. Later on this point will turn out to be the highest point of the trip.
11:27 – 11:40 – walked 1.56 mi – elev. 3324 – Когда дошел до развилки AT и Bemis Trail, решил идти по Bemis Trail, but an internal question immediately arose – why am I here – on this side trail? All the confidence and focus of the decisive drive to move forward on the present plan was destroyed. And that can be called the main theme of the whole trip. Why am I here at this spot? What am I doing here?
The trail is very wet. The trees are high and allow plenty of light. I consume one more orange – $1.29 each.
11:58 I think I see a trail branching out. It must be an old AT going to nonexistent Elephant Mtn. Shelter that still can be seen on old topo maps (for example on iHikeGPS map)
12:41 – walked 2.66 in 4 hours. The trail goes precipitously down. It is getting hotter and layers of clothing are out. Why am I here? What does it mean – to be here? Everything seems optional – even the next step. Let life happen without any effort. I already am. I already exist.
13:25 – I see the one and only bear dump. Large, extensive and fresh. No worries – I have a gun with me.
13:43 – 14:13 – walked 4.08 mi – elev. 2459 – I am on a good, well-maintained forest road crossing the Bemis Tr. But it is unclear where this road leads to. It is not on my maps. And a satellite map from AllTrails.com is not loading offline.
15:30 – One or two miles prior to exiting, I lost the trail somewhere and that made the descent even more and I was going down on an old trail with very faint markings and only guessing my way between boulders and trees. Then I found myself on something that could be called a road, of former road and I continued to go and go down without even looking for blazes on trees. And finally, I emerged on a Bemis Rd. completing 5 mi in 4 hours.
16:00 – I walked another mile on the road to return to AT.
16:10 – 16:20 Now I need to cross an aggressive Bemis Stream. To stay dry I need to take all my clothes off. I crossed the dangerous section 3 times – first – it was a try run, then with my backpack and finally with all my valuables. With my pants off, I notice a tick bite on my thigh. Another unpleasant thing to worry about. Midday I also begin to worry about a strange sound in car ventilation that started just before I parked the car at the bottom of the valley.
16:44 – walked 8.12 mi – elev. 1532 – +17°C and sunny – Although it is less than a mile to the bike, I do not want to finish everything today. I see a descent spot and decide to stay here – not far from the trail, close to a tiny brook. Route 17 is high above me. There are even signals here. Temperature tonight could drop to +7°C and no rain. Good!
As I have a bit more daytime, first I just rest sitting on the ground and only at
17:07 -I begin to construct my camp. At first, the question of meaning doesn’t allow me to enjoy the moment, but eventually I told myself to “play” the camping, and as get involved into minutia activities, I forget about meaning and begin being in the moment, right here in the forest on the hill.
17:34 – Hammock is hanging, clothes are drying on a string,
17:59 – I brought the water and washed my hand and face. The water is very clean and transparent. I am sitting comfortably in my hammock and enjoying the sun.
18:40 – cooking food – Wild Zora – Greek Garden Lentil. The tea is already brewing in the cups. The sun is shining brightly.
19:12 – done with food. Start packing all into backpack.
20:23 – Completed Duolingo right from the hammock – nice! Walked 8 mi today and 8 mi yesterday. For the whole trip, I’ve met only 2 bikers on a 1-mile stretch of Bemis Rd. and no cars. Here, around me the deer are hopping and huffing. They are surprised to see someone in their territory.
20:35 Why is it so important to write down all the happenings and all the emotions on the hike? Is the meaning of life being a walk with wet feet on an endless trail? Why am I now writing about my every day in a normal life? Maybe I should have before going to bed? My happy focused and satisfied stated is smeared by a question “Why am I here?”
Navigate through the List
- 01 2026-05 Preparations for the trip one (2026/05/15)
- 02 2026-05-16 SA ME from Route 17 to AT on Pleasant Mount Rd (2026/05/16)
- 03 2026-06-17 SU ME on AT and Bemis Trail and without a trail (2026/05/17)
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