3/28 and they're off....

6:15am

Stirring in the hostel wakes me.. Third night in a row I have had a nightmare. I realize that everyone back home is safe and sound, yet my brain seems to think otherwise when I am asleep. 

I pull myself out of my bag and look around at the many bodies already getting packed up to start the day. It is early and right away I know everyone in that place had the some idea to leave early and try and get a slot at the shelter. I packed the majority of my things the night before so I jump up and begin to throw all my things in their set place. I set aside my breakfast the night before and after a quick pack I eat a banana, orange, and a bar. Once again I take no time to cook something warm. The sun is not up as I enjoy my simple breakfast. 6 more people are preparing bags to leave. The first hiker is out the door by 6:50, followed by 2 more at 7:10. I wait for Lee to get ready and have his coffee and we are out the door by 7:20ish....

It's raining... Nothing particularly terrible but it is making itself known. As we begin our hike our bodies begin to warm and after a short climb the weather is almost pleasant.. The rain is not as heavy as predicted and for the during of the day it is a mist or light. The fog is thick and visibility is 40 yrds or less at times. Hiking some spines where the hills disappears on either side, feels almost like a dream. The ground rises up to meet you on all sides as if it was being constructed just for your passing. While this kind of environment is very pretty for a time the views we would enjoy at each outcropping could be described as staring at a white wall. Only one speckle of natural and vibrant color on my path today. After climbing a very steep incline and gaining speed as it leveled out, I passed the first signs of spring. Wild flowers. A beautiful little patch of yellow flowers had sprouted and looked like there would be many more to follow. Had the fog not covered the backdrop I am sure this scene would have been incredible.  An hour into the hike we catch the 2 hikers that preceded us. The shelter everyone is racing for is something just over 11 miles. Lee and I manage to make it there by 11:30. Only a few slots have been claimed by people who camped in between the night before. Lee and I decide that while another half of a day is available we will not waste the daylight. The next campsite is 7+ miles away. Lee has a snickers and departs as I decide a warm lunch with some extras is in order to keep my body running. Oatmeal, peanut butter, fun size candy bar and I am off again. The trail to the next shelter is is most peaceful section I have seen thus far, a welcome change. This peaceful walk then drastically changes and the last few miles are spent clambering over jagged slippery stones. It I not cold and by this point the rain is all but remaining drops from the trees. The forest floor Has eerie silence towards the end of my day. Trees are far more spread out with fallen logs on every side of the trail. Bright green moss runs the length of each on and other than the sounds I make, the only other noise to break the silence is dripping from trees to the leafy floor. I arrive at the shelter none too soon. I am tired, damp, possible blister forming, and hungry. Everyone at the shelter is in high spirits and chatty. All of us are exhausted, though some have travelled double miles compared to others... 3pm is no time for dinner but we all eat.. I take a nap until 5 and then eat again.. By 6 we are all bedded down for the night. The shelter is supposed to sleep 7 but we packed in for an 8th that walked up 30 seconds after me. For one more that the recommended number we are comfortable. If anyone does any tossing and turning, his/her neighbors will know. Today was an interesting day, the fog made for a much different atmosphere that any I have seen as of yet. Sometimes a branch would fall or a whole limb would allow it's collected water droplets to vacate only to make a crash below. I know that the likely hood of actually running into a bear is very slim, but when it sounds like leaves are being violently moved, there is a split second where my brain thinks "wherever that bear is, it's coming for ya". Total miles for the day is 18.8. The blister I thought I had turned out to be nothing much. But further inspection of my heel shows that tomorrow may be my first. All of my gear held up in the rain and I arrived with nothing wet and not miserable. 

Tomorrow I have the opportunity to make it into town again, It will require another 18 mile day. I think it would behoove me to take a shorter trip to an in between shelter before then. My trip into town I will have to collect some new food rations, consume a bunch of fruit/vegetables, and purchase another pair of socks. It wasn't until this morning that I realized someone had made off with my other pair. Smart wool is not an every day sock so I hope I can find an outdoor store that carries them at a reasonable price. Thank you all for the name recommendations and yes Stevie Wander might be my favorite right now. I will look them over carefully when I am not so tired but for now  it is 7pm and I will read till I am out. 

Happy trails.