Date: 2004-03-28
From: Muskrat Creek Shelter

To: Beech Gap
Miles today: 9.3
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept late again, but slept well - maybe for the first time since my trip began. Spent a long time breaking camp, generally still sore and tired from yesterday and not feeling like hiking. I"ve come to the conclusion that I don't like mornings - breaking camp is the least fun part of the trip, and getting out of a nice warm sleeping bag isn't always easy. Left Muskrat Creek Shelter at 9:30!Once again, half an hour into my day the AT worked her magic and I was glad to be out there. Took a little longer to find my rhythem today, brobably because I was still a little sore and tired from yesterday, but once I did I made good time. Great time, in fact, crossing the 4.9 miles to Standing Indian Shelter in only 2.5 hours! And it was such a perfect day - maybe 70 degrees, light breeze, the scenery was unusually beautiful even for the AT, and because we were so high up (as much as 5500 feet at the peak of Standing Indian Mt) there were beautiful views through the trees all day long.Wingfoot's book said there was water at the top of S.I. Mt., so I only carried up a liter of water. Even though the trip from Deep Gap to the top of SI was basically 2.5 miles of non-stop uphill, it was gradual and not terribly taxing. Also, I think I'm beginning to get stronger, even if it has only been not quite 2 weeks. Anyhow, at the top of the mountain, I follow the sign for water - go almost half a mile STRAIGHT down the mountain before giving up and trudging back (guidebook said 100 feet but it's been off by a lot before, so I had to look). Wander up the side trail in the other direction - no water there either. Now it's 3 miles to the next water source, I have NO water and haven't in an hour, and I've trudged an extra 1.5 miles trying to find some.Luckily, Brandon and 2 day hikers save the day! Between them, they give me a liter and I"m good to go. There is no way to thank someone enough for something like that, and no way to understand it until it's happened to you.The next water is at Beech Gap. There's good camping there too, so I call it an early day after 9.3 trail miles and about 11 actual miles. Wanted to try for Carter Gap shelter another 3.5 miles away, but after my bout with dehydration and my extra mile and a half, I'm feeling sluggish and ready to call it a day. I'm also a collection of aches and pains - 2 toes, my feet are killing me (didn't hurt till I got real thirsty - wonder if there's some correlation?), my ankle turned hard twice on the way down SI Mt., and my back (for the first time ever) is a little sore (which is weird because my pack usually rides beautifully.) Luckily my knee was virtually pain free all day again (go patellar strap!) but is aching a little now as I lie here not moving.All in all I made excellent time today - not counting my water fiasco I went 9.3 miles in about 6 hours, which is fantastic for me and even a little above average all around. Since the campsites at Beech Gap are so secluded and spread out, I have no idea who else is spending the night here, though I do hear a lot of people on the path to get water.It's only 6pm but I am yawning and have finished all the pages of the book shelly sent me (send more at once! Now that I'm hiking faster I have more free time!) So I'm gonna hit the sack early. I'm about 20 miles from my next mail drop and want to make it in 2 days - plan to stay at Big Spring Shelter tomorrow and in town the night after.For a girl who's never kept a journal, this ain't too bad!