Date: 2013-05-31
From: campsite mile 639.2

To: Stony Creek
Miles today: 13.3

I left camp and Bailey was not as excited as usual. She had let me put her pack on her but was not bouncy. As I stated down the trail she wouldn't come and then when she did, she wanted to turn around and go back to camp. I had to go back to because she wouldn't come. I leashed her and she began walking with me very hesitantly. We stopped and I took her pack off, checking for sore spots, checking her pads, looking for anything that could be bothering her. I couldn't find anything but I took a little bit of food out of her pack and put it in mine,, I gave her plenty of water but she wasn't thirsty! By this time I was in tears. My dog didn't want to walk. She wasn't hurting that I could see and I couldn't carry her or her 6lb pack. We hiked very slowly for 30 more min. until we came to a clearing in which she decided to wake up and be her playful bouncy self again. She bounded off ahead of me into the grass, sniffing and coming back to get me. I was so relieved I laughed out loud. My dog was ok! But I had told myself when I first brought the dog on the trail that if she was ever not excited to hike in the morning I would try to send her home soon. My dad was coming that day so she would be going home with him. We hiked on, trying to catch up to Cozy and Redup as it was fun to hike together. I finally caught up to them and as we started spreading out again Bailey ran back to Redup and whimpered, saying hurry up. She whimpered at Cozy too when she was slowing down. When I stopped to go to the bathroom Bailey kept going with Cozy. I was surprised as she normally waits for me. She must really like cozy. I laughed at her when I caught up, telling her she wasn't supposed to leave me. Cozy and i hike on getting to a sign that says were still 2.5 mi from the shelter. We had both been looking for the shelter. We had lunch and waited for Redup. I was sure that my parents were already on 635 maybe hiking south a bit to meet me. It was getting hot ,bearing the heat of the day when I don't like to hike, but I pressed on, knowing there 'd be goodies in the car. We got water and I used Cozy's chemical treatment. I like my pump filter because I really don't like the taste of chemicals. We continued on and I see my Mom coming south on the trail. Bailey barks at her until she gets closer. All of a sudden as Bailey realizes it's my Mom, she gets ecstatic. My dog was having a bad day but no longer. She was whimpering and wiggling her stub tail like crazy. I was glad to see my Mom too and seeing my dog excited made me happy. Cozy, my Mom, Bailey and I pressed on in the heat passing "the Captains" I wanted to wee this zip line thing they had to get across the creek. It was a small swing that you had to pull yourself across. There was going to be free food there on June 1 and a whole bunch of people were be-lining for there including the partying trail days bubble. We got to the car and bailey immediately jumped in while Cozy and I enjoyed a Dr. Pepper and oatmeal creme pie. While we relaxed my mom showed me my new pack and new summer sleeping bag and other new gear. Cozy left to go on up the mtn and my Mom and I got down to business packing my new pack. I unpacked my external frame laying everything out on the ground. I had to repack some of my bags to be skinny and long because that fits better. I inspected my new pack and all of its pockets and zippers. I packed it all up and the first thing out of my mouth was "it feels like I am slack packing!" I'd gotten rid of some winter cloths changed my 2# 0 degree bag to a summer 50 degree 1 lb bag and the pack was 2 lbs lighter. I walked all around bad=ck and forth down the trail back to the car adjusting it and enjoying my comfy light weight pack. With all the excitement about my new pack I almost forgot to mention my other way cool new hiking stick! My dad made me a hemlock hiking stick with an AT metal emblem, red swirly decorations and wood burned writing with my trail name Indigo and GA- ME 2013. It looked super awesome and was the perfect height. My other stick was about 15 years old and was still holding me up. Hopefully my left hand will know how to use a hiking stick. It was getting to dinner time and it was over a mile up to the next shelter. My Mom really wanted to dip her feet in the water so we camped by the bridge. We made Parmesan with chicken as it got dark. My Mom had brought Purina meals for Bailey some beefy trail magic for her. We all fit into my Nemo tent in our summer sleeping bags. I wanted to wake up early and get going but I went to bed late so I couldn't wake up til 6:30. We didn't get going til about 8:30.