May 13, 2013
It was cold when I woke this morning. I knew it because I found myself curled into the depths of my sleeping pad with the top pulled closed over my head. The trouble is that you will never get to Maine in a sleeping bag.
The down part of sleeping in a tent is packing up when it is raining or really cold. Your sleeping bag gets stuffed into its sack, compressed, and shoved down into the bottom of the pack. The under pad gets deflated, rolled up, and stuffed into its sack. By this time your hands are freezing! At this point, you pull the stakes on the tent and begin to stuff it into the carry sack. It is damp and cold and never wants to fit into the sack it came in. Once done, everything can be put in its place, the pack closed and straps tightened, and you are ready to hit the trail.
I like to hike for a while and then stop for breakfast. This has become for me two packets of Carnation Instant Breakfast, French Vanilla flavor. I mix it with cold water and drink it down. It is like a watery milkshake that gives me 300 calories and plenty of water to start the day.
Today was Max Patch. This is another grassy bald, only on steriods! It was more than I could have dreamed. The sky was clear and the views went on forever. I stayed as long as I could, soaking in the views and the majesty of the place. The wind finally drove me off the open summit and down once again into the woods.
The path today was gentle. I crossed several flowing streams and enjoyed a wide variety of flowers. I stood for a long time admiring a beautiful bird sitting very near me on a branch. He was solid deep red over his entire body, with jet black wings and tail. His eyes were also a jet black mask. I wish I knew more about birds. I know that some of you are smiling right now at my ignorance. I will say he was amazing to watch!
My day ended at 10 miles. I am tired, but not overly so. I am glad, because tomorrow promises a few more elevation challenges. I am less than 14 miles from Hot Springs, NC. My original plan was to hike 10 tomorrow, and then walk into town the next morning. If I'm feeling good, however, I might just push into town tomorrow. The AT goes right through the town, which should be a real experience.
That's all for now. It is supposed to go below freezing here tonight, so I am sleeping with my water filter. Should be fun!
It was cold when I woke this morning. I knew it because I found myself curled into the depths of my sleeping pad with the top pulled closed over my head. The trouble is that you will never get to Maine in a sleeping bag.
The down part of sleeping in a tent is packing up when it is raining or really cold. Your sleeping bag gets stuffed into its sack, compressed, and shoved down into the bottom of the pack. The under pad gets deflated, rolled up, and stuffed into its sack. By this time your hands are freezing! At this point, you pull the stakes on the tent and begin to stuff it into the carry sack. It is damp and cold and never wants to fit into the sack it came in. Once done, everything can be put in its place, the pack closed and straps tightened, and you are ready to hit the trail.
I like to hike for a while and then stop for breakfast. This has become for me two packets of Carnation Instant Breakfast, French Vanilla flavor. I mix it with cold water and drink it down. It is like a watery milkshake that gives me 300 calories and plenty of water to start the day.
Today was Max Patch. This is another grassy bald, only on steriods! It was more than I could have dreamed. The sky was clear and the views went on forever. I stayed as long as I could, soaking in the views and the majesty of the place. The wind finally drove me off the open summit and down once again into the woods.
The path today was gentle. I crossed several flowing streams and enjoyed a wide variety of flowers. I stood for a long time admiring a beautiful bird sitting very near me on a branch. He was solid deep red over his entire body, with jet black wings and tail. His eyes were also a jet black mask. I wish I knew more about birds. I know that some of you are smiling right now at my ignorance. I will say he was amazing to watch!
My day ended at 10 miles. I am tired, but not overly so. I am glad, because tomorrow promises a few more elevation challenges. I am less than 14 miles from Hot Springs, NC. My original plan was to hike 10 tomorrow, and then walk into town the next morning. If I'm feeling good, however, I might just push into town tomorrow. The AT goes right through the town, which should be a real experience.
That's all for now. It is supposed to go below freezing here tonight, so I am sleeping with my water filter. Should be fun!
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