Betsy and The Rocks

Miles 2.1

Camped at mm 304.6

We got up around six and snuck into the living room of the hostel so we could start writing about the horrible man on that horrible day we were assaulted. He’d stolen enough of our time and energy, so it was time to write about it, post about it, and let it go.
We wrote for a few hours and then I was off to Urgent Care. My third Urgent Care visit since we got out here.
The doctor had kind eyes and her name was Betsy. She said she couldn’t believe I even wanted to continue. You’ve got grit, she said. Most people would’ve thrown in the towel at this point. I told her I’ve been falling asleep while walking.
I memorize where The Rocks are, say, up to that log. Then I close my eyes and step over where I think the rocks were. When I get to where I think the log must be, I open my eyes and memorize the next section.
Oh Jodie. That’s so dangerous, she said.
Yeah I know it’s not a good plan, but that’s what’s been happening. I said.
We went over all the symptoms. Waking up at night scared because I can’t breathe. The headaches that feel like I’ve researched something on the computer for too long in a dark room without my glasses on. The nausea. The stumbling.
The list went on.
She agreed that I was suffering once again from Acute Mountain Sickness and after a blood test to check my kidney function, she gave me 12 days of Diamox, which helps with AMS, and should get me to the end of the trip! She gave me her blessing to continue the trip, and I thanked her profusely.
We got one hitch to get us to 114, and the second was from a CT hiker named Andre who just finished the trail and rented a car. He was looking for hikers to shuttle around for a few days. We were so excited to meet him. He took us the 30 minute drive back to the trailhead.
We headed back out on trail, happy to be continuing the journey and happy to be out in the woods where we were safe and alone once again.