Date: 2003-07-12
From: Davis Path Shelter

To: Davis Path Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Happy Birthday Sharelle!It's 6am, and I'm snuggled in my sleeping bag watching the Eastern sky's kaleidoscope of colors through the trees as it prepares for the sun's morning debut. Pale orange, now pink now peach, the arc of color widens, filling more of the sky as the big moment approaches. The birds' cheerful morning chorus is accompanied by the occasional percussion of the woodpecker; a crow does a solo - now just across the Trail, now across the valley.Oops, I laid my head down to rest and woke up to find the back wall of the shelter lit up, the leaves outside glowing, and the sun already a few inches above the mountain horizon. The big moment came and went, and I missed it.If you can believe it, on this July night, I was quite comfortable in my 15 degree bag with my pants, long-sleeve Duofold shirt, and for most of the night, my fleece hat. Only once did I wake up a little warm and unzipped my sleeping bag. Even up until 10am when I just finally got up I've been just the right temperature. The thermometer on the shelter reads 66 degrees. It's sunny, though, and a beautiful day.Oh my gosh. I'm sitting here on the front steps of the shelter contemplating what I'm going to do today. Out of the corner of my eye I think I see a SOBO coming down the Trail, so I turn my head to look. Who should it be, but...A BEAR! Coolly sauntering down the Trail, not 50 feet from me. I dashed up, in the same instant asking myself what I should do, and the first thought was to grab my camera sitting right beside me. I did, pulled it out of the bag, and turned it on, stepping across my sleeping bag to get to a better angle. I must have made just enough noise to scare the bear away because I heard it scamper off through the underbrush.And I was just thinking about cooking breakfast... Wonder if it will come back? I didn't hang my food last night either. It was hanging in the entrance to the shelter practically above my head on the mouse-stick-thing (a contraption found in most shelters, a rope with a stick tied horizontally to the end, with a can of some sort cut in half and tied an inch or two above the stick so mice can't get to whatever is hung there). Boy that would have been a thrill if the bear had come last night! I think I'll be hanging it tonight...Sometimes I'm simply overwhelmed at the reality that I'm really out here doing this, that I really made it happen. (Certainly not alone - with God's help, and the support of many, many others!)In all honesty, it is a challenge today to take my rest day. When I went to bed last night kind of early and woke up this morning at six, I wasn't sure I could make it through today without going on - at least a few miles. There's a campsite 3.6 miles up; it's tempting me.I thought of it last night as I was going to sleep - I know there is an Adventist church in Marion, and Atkins is close enough that if I'd stayed there last night I probably could have found a way to get down there for church this morning. I even considered backtracking this morning in order to do so. I've got to try to plan these zero days a little better so I land in a place that's a little more interesting. Unless it's a town where I can go to church, though, I'd actually just as soon be out in the woods - the atmosphere is a little nicer, the distractions fewer.I've been reading today, wrote some postcards, and this morning re-studied about the Sabbath to remind myself why I felt convicted this rest was important. I know all of this may not have a whole lot to do with anyone else's hike who may be reading my journal for info's sake, but it's part of my spiritual journey, and this is MY journal after all, so it's going in. =) Besides maybe it can help someone in their spiritual journey.My conclusions: Mainly that it is important to keep the Sabbath set apart as different from the rest of the week, a day to re-focus on God, His creation, and the plan of salvation - by faith, not works. (Exodus 20:8-11, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Ezekiel 12:12) It's important to fellowship with other believers (something I obviously haven't done regularly out here!). (Leviticus 23:3, Acts 13:42, 44, 17:2) And it's important to do these things regardless of where you are. (Leviticus 23:3)Not hiking today probably wouldn't as much of an issue if I hadn't just had 11 days off and didn't feel some anxiety about finishing the Trail in a straight shot this season - 'cause it doesn't appear likely that I will. But I was also reminded through my study this morning that obedience to God's laws, though they may appear arbitrary to us, results in blessing - that often doesn't make sense by the world's expectations! (Exodus 16:5-30, Isaiah 58:13, 14) I'd like to be able to say maybe God will bless me enabling me to finish the Trail because I've been careful to keep the Sabbath special; but maybe the blessing will come in some other way - beyond what I can think or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)The Sabbath is not meant to be a burden, and man's health and well-being is more important than the day itself. (Matthew 12:1-13, Mark 2:23-3:6, Luke 6:1-10, 13:10-16, 14:16, John 7:22-24) So I suppose by that I could rationalize going a few miles this evening - whether or not that would be interpreting Scripture to suit my mood I'm not sure!Of course not hiking doesn't mean I can't do anything; there was a big open field about a mile and a half back that would be enjoyable to sit in. I'm just reluctant to backtrack.We'll see. I'll eat again soon and then see how I feel.PEOPLE! I was so excited to see a guy trekking up the Trail I could hardly dare to hope he'd be stopping here at only 5pm. Sure enough he did though, Quinn, and his friend KC came along not far behind. Quinn's a thru-hiker, KC headed to Harper's Ferry. Cool. I'll be here tonight.Two more arrived later, an oler SOBO couple section-hiking. Maybe this was my blessing!