Day 82: The Half Gallon Challenge
I woke up to the soothing sounds of the nearby stream, a peaceful start to another day of hiking the Appalachian Trail. Today, I embarked on a unique tradition among AT through hikers: the half gallon challenge. This challenge involves eating half a gallon of ice cream in one sitting, a testament to our endurance and a sweet reward for reaching the halfway point of the trail.
The halfway point, Pine Grove Furnace, was just a short 3.5 miles away. We had hiked 23 miles the previous day, and the trail's distance can vary slightly each year due to rerouting or detours. Finding the official halfway sign was a bit of a scavenger hunt, but we eventually located it a couple of tenths of a mile past the shelter.
Upon reaching Pine Grove Furnace, we entered the store to choose our ice cream flavors. I opted for Butter Pecan in a 1.5-quart tub and Strawberry Cheesecake in a pint. The challenge began, and I started with the Butter Pecan, carefully working on the melting edges and then prying open the center to speed up the melting process. I made steady progress, finishing the tub in under 20 minutes, not long after Blueberry Turtle completed his. I then devoured the pint quickly, as it was already partially melted, and finished the half gallon challenge in 24:36.
I was pleased with my performance, despite not meeting Blueberry Turtle's impressive time of 22:14. The other hikers, Big Stick and Queso, took their time but finished strong, with Big Stick completing the challenge in 42:50 and Queso in 1:11:31. Interestingly, some of the hikers felt sick after finishing, but I felt surprisingly good, considering I didn't eat as fast as I could have.
After the challenge, we headed to the Appalachian Trail Museum, located just a few hundred feet away. The children's exhibits proved to be the most engaging and educational. We then returned to the convenience store for lunch, and I indulged in a smashburger and french fries, less than two hours after my ice cream feast. Some of the group decided to cool off in the nearby lake, but I opted to skip the swim, as I only had one pair of shorts and didn't want to hike in wet clothing.
The afternoon hike resumed around 2:30 pm, starting with a gentle climb. The trail then became mostly downhill or flat, with some rocky sections. We made quick work of the remaining 8 miles, reaching the Green Mountain General Store by 5:30 pm. This quaint store offered a variety of groceries, a deli, a grill, fresh baked goods, and cold beverages. I treated myself to chicken tenders, breaded mushrooms, some baked goods, and a Birch Beer, which I found to be just okay.
After spending some time at the store, we headed out to finish our hiking for the day. We had a short mile left, which included a small climb, but we made quick work of it. We set up our tents and prepared for a good night's rest.
Day 82 was a mix of culinary challenges and hiking adventures. It's fascinating to see how hikers adapt to the trail's demands, whether it's conquering a half gallon of ice cream or navigating the trail's twists and turns. As I reflect on this day, I can't help but wonder what other surprises and challenges the trail has in store for us in the coming days.
