In Part 5 of my Ouachita Trail thru-hike, I’m up at 5:40 a.m. doing a little night hiking because I’m nervous about the weather rolling in. With all the deadfall and the talk of severe thunderstorms and damaging winds, I don’t want to get caught out in the trees. I push an easy 10.5 miles to Big Bear Shelter and decide to hunker down by the creek instead of gambling on making the next shelter before the storm hits. Turns out the forecast is a bit of a crapshoot—there’s some wind and a little rain, but nothing like what was predicted. Still, the “chill day” pays off: I get chores done, charge electronics, drink tea, and set myself up for the final push. I also meet my first thru-hiker on trail—she’s out chasing an FKT—which was a fun surprise. After a cold 33-degree morning, I get picked up and head to Mountain Time B&B for a reset, good conversation, and a solid meal. Then it’s back out for a 13.6-mile day (2,380 feet of gain), dialing in hydration and calories for two big days ahead—almost 19 miles and then about 18—because the end is finally in sight.