A shelter constructed in a modified A-frame style was located at Butter Gap. It looked much different than shelters on the AT. It also needed some repairs, so we had no thoughts of sleeping inside. We found flat spots for our tents, and a piped spring was nearby.
It felt odd to set up camp at 4 p.m. after hiking less than nine miles. My brain was still trying to follow my daily routine on the CDT.
At any rate, this was a sensible time to stop. Going any farther would require carrying extra water, and sunset was at 5:27 p.m.
Three backpackers arrived while Polecat and I were pitching our tents. Two said they were from Chattanooga, and the other one was from Tallahassee, Florida. Three women walked into camp later as the sun began to set. We helped them find a place to set up before it got dark.
I thought I would be able to handle this hike with ease, but it was more tiring than I expected. A month ago, I was still hiking on the CDT, but by now, my trail legs had already left me.
Then too, I should have known that hiking in this part of the country, and particularly on this trail, was far different than hiking out west.
Nevertheless, what I saw of the Art Loeb Trail so far was nothing compared to what I would see tomorrow.