Date: 2012-03-05
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

Whew, its ben hard finding time to transcribe these from my written journal to the site using my smrt phone. But now it's time to catch up. Please forgive all the spelling mistakes and messed up words as this tiny keyboard is hard to type on.Last night I was finally tolerably warm. Not at first but after pee break #1 I grabbed my hiking pants and put those on. The tent covering was a bad idea as I condensation build up betwen the lower half of my bag and the silnylon. Well, live and learn. Luckily it was sunny when I gt to gooch and I let it dry out some. Tonight is suppose to be the coldest night this week and ikm hoping that this sheltered valley will not get so bad. Today's hikme was a hard one. I woke up at 6:30 and despite being first up in the shelter and making an active effort to speed pack, I didn't get out of camp until 8:30 am. There were thre big hills straight away and then Sassafrass mountian. Those slowed me way down and I didn't make the miles I really wanted t. This isokay as I think giving my body a chance to adjust and heel everynight will be an advantage in the end. I think tomorrow I'll do another day like today and have only 6 or so miles left to get to Neels Gap after that. Those miles will include Blood Mountain (highest elevation so far). That is going to be quite a climb if my elevation map is right. While hiking today I had a lot of mental ups and downs and really came to understand why some quit. After taking 4 1/2 hours to go 3 miles I felt like I just wasn't making any progres and you start calculating all the miles left to do and it all starts to just feel overwelming. By now I was slightly stressed about the amount of food I have and was cold and dirty. I too felt the urge to be home in VA warmer dry, full, out of thewind with no worries. But then I realized I was looking at the big picture of how many total miles there were and mentally yanked myself into a healthier viewpoint of concentrating on single days and those miles. Small goals. I made myself enjoy the ache in my legs reminding myself it meant I was getting stronger. Although I didn't get as far as I iwould like I'm going to be okay with food and I really like the group I'm hiking with. Even though I move slower than everyone else I also keep the same miles. Slow and steady, strong but slow. Just keep chanting it. I still enjoy this and anticipate what is to come. BUT. I certainly will welcome warmer weather! Tenting tonight and praying the occaisonal tree rubbing noisei've just started to hear doesn't mean alimb is coming down on me. Earlier today a strong gust of wind blew off my hat and I went sliding down a hill to get it. Just as I went over a tree limb crashed down on the spot I was standing. I still can't decide if the wind was luring me into position and missed or saved my life. I bet tonigt will be uncomfortable...   my toliet paper situation is dire and I'm dwn t my last few sheets. Those coffee filters are starting to look really good right about now. But checking out tomorrows miles it looks like there is a public bathroom I can snag a few at.