Just as there is a pattern to the descents into town, so there is a pattern to the hills out of towns on the other side. The hill out of Belden was 14 miles long gaining 6,000 feet of elevation. It was hot and rather exposed, but thankfully not humid. Still, it was Chug’s first day back on trail and…
Getting to town today was 12 miles downhill. The first miles from the ridge were fairly flat and wide but the trail soon became recognisable as a descent into town. That is to say it narrowed to around 18 inches wide, cut into the side of a steep hill. Into Belden, the hill is densely forested and relatively humid, so…