The Perfect Storm

October 14, 2022 4:31 pm

Billy and Spice had their sights set on a 50 mile/17,000 vertical foot gain Hut to Hut Traverse in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on September 24-25. Hurricane Fiona had other plans, including 116 mph winds and icy conditions on Mt. Washington, one of the peaks on the trek. Coupled with corporate obligations, the trip was scrapped until next year.

Enter: The Appalachian Trail. Never ones to let an adventure pass by, the duo traveled south from their home in Maryland to Virginia instead.

Billy, Founder of CloudSplitter Coffee, is a committed section hiker with nearly 1,000 miles highlighted in his AWOL Guide. His girlfriend Spice is an A.T. Finisher, exuberantly tagging along for Victory Laps.

Saturday morning, the hiking couple caught a shuttle with their friend Rumble to Tye River and hiked 30 miles north back to their sometimes hotel / sometimes Jeep parked at Rockfish Gap.

During the shuttle, Spice excitedly reconnected with Hawk, a legendary hiker she’d met several other times under completely “random” circumstances over a number of years. The trail continues to prove to be a tight-knit community.

In typical crisp autumnal weather, Billy and Spice managed to remain upright while navigating thousands of acorns, also known as ball-bearings. This was only one of many conversations with southbound (SOBO) hikers, who also warned the pair about another hazard.

Approximately seven miles into the first day, Billy and Spice engaged in a brief, yet intense, trail run while sporting full packs, to avoid an active ground-nesting pack of angry yellowjackets. No humans or buzzing stingy things were harmed.

Run like hell.

-Spice, regarding the angry yellowjacket ground-nest.

Though they hiked in shorts and bare arms, hoodies and puffy jackets were necessary to abate the frigid wind during the fastest lunch known to man.

A cozy campfire capped off a perfect 16 mile/5200 vert day.

With only 13.5 miles/1900 vert on the second day, the pair had time to chat with social media friends Trekkin Sketches, a married couple on a SOB0 thru-hike.

Realizing everything turns out the way it was supposed to, Billy and Spice were grateful for another grinding adventure. They celebrated with Wendy’s drive-thru on the way home to Maryland.

CLOUDSPLITTER COFFEE – An essential item on every camping list.