Day 20, Sept 22
KMSF SU Shelter #3 to DCA Clover Valley. 15.1 miles
Today’s goal was the opposite of yesterday’s. Instead of timing my hike to beat the heat, I wanted to time it to beat most of the heavy rain. It was important to avoid setting up my tent during rainfall if at all possible since the temps were supposed to dip into the 40s overnight, and one does not want the inside of one’s tent (and everything in it) wet at those temperatures. Or any temperature, really.
A series of thunderstorms with heavy rain blanketed the area last night (I was grateful to be in the shelter). Heavy rain was predicted through 1pm today, then showers here and there until 4pm. Temperatures were also going to drop to the low 60s by 5pm before going into the mid-40s overnight. This was the forecast along my entire 15-mile route today. I love the NOAA website, by the way. The most accurate pinpoint forecasts I have used in my 16 years of year-round hiking.
I therefore did the opposite of yesterday. Instead of leaving hours before dawn, I left the shelter many hours after I usually start hiking. I waited out most of the rain and didn’t get on trail until 11am. I therefore kind of had a “zero” day since I’d arrived at the shelter at 11am the day before.
My morning was wonderful. I lounged on my airpad and under my quilt in the shelter watching Netflix while the rain pummeled the roof. This was my first leisurely morning since I began this thru-hike.
I left after the rain let up a bit. It still rained on me, but it was more of the light and steady variety instead of the buckets-of-water-every-second kind. It felt good. I hiked without my rain jacket at first since I knew I would overheat with it on. I did don it once I hit the roadwalk for the day and the wind hit me. The jacket kept me warm in spite of my wet clothes underneath. It’s an above-treeline-tried-and-true piece of gear I’ve had for years.
It was such a pleasure hiking without dealing with heat! I was in a much better mental frame of mind to enjoy the trail.
I couldn’t take many photos because my fingers were usually too wet to properly work my phone. That’s too bad, because there were areas that were gorgeous. Lake LaGrange, for example. Nice boardwalks throughout the day. Pretty meadows. I did get some photos here and there, and I include them here.
The Whitewater Lake segment had more hills than I was expecting. Don’t know why that took me by surprise. Regardless, I enjoyed it.
I loved the well along Clover Valley Road! Two vehicles were there filling up. The well was dug by Adam Channing in 1885 and has been flowing ever since. There’s a great sign, and I tried to get a photo, but, again, I couldn’t get my wet hands to properly work my phone.
The rain stopped as I walked the last mile of the day’s 5-mile roadwalk.
I had expected the Clover Valley segment to be overgrown according to a note on FarOut. It was just fine and quite pretty with its stream and fields. The DCA is lovely, with plenty of space for multiple tents and soft ground over grassy tufts.
No rain fell as I set up my tent, which made me happy. All my dry bags did their job, so nothing inside my pack got wet. Got there a couple hours before sunset, so I didn’t even need my headlamp (I am averaging 3mph, though I suspect that will lesson once I reach more hilly segments of the IAT).
I stripped down, dried myself off with my hiker towel, and got into dry clothes. Spent the night cozy and warm.
‘Twas a good day. The complete opposite of yesterday in terms of weather and strategy. But hey, that’s backpacking for ya.
Day 21, Sept 23
DCA Clover Valley to Janesville motel. 20.4 trail miles plus an additional 0.7 to the motel.
Slept well in the cooler evening temps. Felt warm and cozy this morning and did not want to get up. Finally made myself rise at 5:15 so I could get on trail around 7:15.
My hiking clothes were wet from yesterday, so I kept a warm hat on as I donned them. I also wore a fresh pair of compression socks and Darn Toughs. Finished packing wearing my dry long-sleeve merino over my wet hiking dress. I stayed warm enough.
What a difference cooler temperatures make! I finished the pretty Clover Valley section and did the nearly 10-mile road walk that followed in good cheer. Farmland and rural homes, good stuff.
My bear canister was almost empty, and I was ready for normal food. Milton’s sidewalks and road-trail wound through the quaint town, and I stopped to enjoy a wrap and a pumpkin/cream cheese muffin at a coffee shop.
More sidewalks and pavement until an odd but beautiful “connecting route” between Milton and Janesville. The signs there call it a CR, but it looks like nice trail through the woods. I enjoyed it.
Janesville was all sidewalk and paved bike path, and my feet were telling me they wanted to find my hotel quickly (no legal camping available). I stepped off the trail near a shopping complex, made a detour to Aldi’s to get some fresh fruit and yogurt, and arrived at the motel. Laundry, tent-drying, and catching up on internet odds and ends followed. Very tired.
My blisters are nearly all healed, but now the upper parts of my toes have abrasions on them where the seams of my socks rub against the skin. Will have to adjust my lacing.
Day 22, Sept 24
Janesville motel to Robert Cook Memorial Arboretum 13.1 miles
Vacation day! Felt like it, anyway. Got to slackpack through Janesville on an overcast and cool day. I did NOT carry: my tent, bear canister, days of food, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, extra clothes, or puffy. I felt like I could fly.
I had paved bike path through all of Janesville, past business and homes and into pretty wooded areas. There was one section on the west side of town that felt a little sketchy since it was isolated and narrow and had a lot of dark concrete tunnels where Pennywise might lurk. After that bit, the path opened out into a park and a boating area. Then it was on to the Devil’s Staircase segment, a beautiful path by Rock River that had some ups and downs. I ended my hiking day with Arbor Ridge, the open wooded segment within the Arboretum.
It felt so very easy, walking without my full gear. I needed the relative break.
Trail angels Carol and Don Tyriver picked me up from the Arboretum parking lot and brought me back to my Janesville motel. Tomorrow, they will pick me up at the motel and bring me back to the Arboretum. This way I don’t have to hike 33+ miles into Evansville tomorrow.
Carol and Don did the IAT last fall and finished around the same time last year as I anticipate finishing this year. I enjoyed speaking with them during the short drive to the motel. They said they had a wonderful hike with no snow. That gives me hope for my own finish. They also gave me some helpful tips and contact info for help with the northern section.
The rest of my day will be spent researching the northern section and reaching out for help with shuttles.
Also, and more importantly, I’m speaking with my daughter later this afternoon. Can’t wait to hear how things are going with her at college.
