Two Butts Go Over Big Butt Mtn

June 10, 2025

I slept in a bit this morning. Bo and I camped alone, which was a nice change. We got rolling around 0800, and we climbed up and over Big Butt Mtn–there was no view sadly. Then we meandered through berry patches, which sadly had no berries yet.

Bo and I walked up on another thru-hiker with a dog (who I would later meet and learn that they are “Quill” and Dude). Bo and I rushed to try and put some distance between us because Bo pulls hard trying to catch up to people, and even more if there’s a dog ahead. I hope we won’t leapfrog them too much that way both our dogs will be calmer and walk well.

We walked 8 miles without water and when we arrived at Flint Mtn Shelter I raced to filter water, hoping I could finish up before Quill and Dude caught up. In my haste, I left my mesh bag that holds my filtration set and had to leave Bo and my back and run back. I took a poptart break on a log and met two guys with Carolina Mtn Club who were doing some trail work. They told me there’s some trail magic ahead by the road. I got down there to find sodas, rice krispies, and poptarts. I chugged a mtn dew and instantly questioned my decision because the burps going uphill for the next 20 minutes were legendary.

There was a lot of uphill today, so I found a little campsite with a firering and called it a day. I realized at camp that I’ve gone a month wearing pants and a hat 24/7. So naturally, that had to change. I set up camp in a bra and underwear and let my hair go crazy which was very nice and freeing. If I knew no hikers would walk up on me I wouldn’t wear any clothes, haha.