AT section hike 2026 May 4-5 Alpaca Farm and more

May 4-5:  Sunday and Monday- days of beautiful hiking, resting and enjoying an Alpaca Farm.

Sunday was a big day.  I needed to get to the Long Neck Lair hostel in Atkins so I didn’t have to sleep out in the cold again.   I was motivated!  So I left Partnership shelter and hikers away.   It was a rocky steep climb up Glade mountain, a 4000 footer.  The terrain finally settled into a meadow like ridge on top for aways then descended.   I arrived at the Chatfield memorial shelter for a break.   It was 2:30.   No room for tents here.   No privy or bear box.  Did have signal tho.   Talked to my trail buddies- Kenneth and Kris.   They gave me the encouragement I needed to keep moving on.   The trail did settle down after that. No more rocks to work through and trip around. I came upon the 1890 farmstead and schoolhouse. There was trail magic!  I took a Gatorade and a chocolate cookie.  🍪 yum!   The bathroom was open too.  I then crossed the meadow and climbed up the next big hill fueled by the trail magic.   Soon I crossed a train track and could see up on the hill the Alpaca place.   But one had to follow the trail into town first.  I arrived at the Mexican place for supper about 5:45 pm.   Then went the 0.3 miles to the Alpaca farm.   It was a climb uphill but interesting, as the Alpacas were watching me.

Once in the bunkhouse I met two lady hikers.  They both had the trail name Butterfly.  I introduced myself and we had some small talk but it was time for all good little hikers to go to bed.  After all, it was after 7 pm when I got there.  I chose a bottom bunk then we all went to sleep.  The bunks were really nice. Privacy curtains, your own plug in’s, a light and a fan.   The pillow and mattress were super comfortable.   I slept like a baby.

Monday, Butterfly from Louisiana went slack packing.  Butterfly from Wisconsin wasn’t feeling well so she took a zero day.  I did my chores- laundry, washed dishes and flushed my water filter.  I worked on my blog, read my Bible and watched my church’s on line service.  When Butterfly from L came back, we had really good conversations getting to know each other and talking about the Lord.  We prayed for Butterfly from W.  We ordered pizza and cheesecake and had it delivered.  We also went down with Cindy, the owner, to pet the alpacas.  They also have angora goats, chickens, a black cat and a poodle.  The setting of this farm is just beautiful.

Today, Butterfly from L is doing her last slack packing then heading home.  Butterfly from W feels much better Ptl!  She has decided to hike with me today.  We prayed together before we left.  What a special time it was to be with these ladies.