Date: 2007-05-02
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

May 2, Zero in the WoodsI got up at 7:30 a.m. to a balmy 56.8 degrees in my tent. I didn't go through my normal morning routine since I wasn't sure we'd be hiking today. My Achilles felt much better but is still stiff. I sat at the shelter and talked with BearKiller a bit while Certain put on her shoes to test run her foot. No go.We are only a little over two miles from the next road crossing but taking a zero in the woods is free and more relaxing so we will stay here today. We probably won't have enough food to get to Erwin after today so we'll still use that road crossing, then come back and finish the hike to Erwin. At least that's the current plan.It's been nice knowing we could just lounge here all day. We had breakfast with BearKiller and Scout and then I hiked to the water to wash my socks and a shirt and soak my foot. My clothes are hanging to dry and I am in my tent relaxing. It's 87.4 degrees in here right now and it feels perfect.Although I am comfortable with staying here today, I am a little bummed we have to take another zero, at least....It's been a gorgeous day. I am currently soaking my feet in the spring-fed stream near the shelter. It's pretty warm today and this feels great. I'm watching other hikers get their water and I pity them for the work they have to do today.My plan for the rest of the day is to eat and sleep and continue watching the parade of people down the water trail where we are camped.It's funny, Certain referred to this section of the trail as something akin to the Bermuda Triangle. Seems just about everyone we've talked to today has mentioned how hard this stretch had been on them, how they aren't making their normal miles, and how they are really hurting. It's actually refreshing to know it's not just us. And none of us can pinpoint a reason - the terrain doesn't seem all that much harder - but we still feel beaten by the end of the day.   ...In my tent now after a fun evening up at the shelter. Sure is nice to have some energy to socialize! We were up there with BearKiller and Scout, Yellow Jacket and Take it Easy, Joe, Almost Lucky, and Half Pint. BearKiller and Scout are a riot! Scout was telling us a story about how he and his dad got seperated on the trail in a snowstorm and his dad sent out the fire department in the middle of the night to look for him! He was fine, asleep in the shelter. The FD went back to town to tell his dad he was okay and BearKiller sent them back to retrieve him. Hahaha! I had read about this encounter in the Walnut Mtn. trail register but I never thought I'd meet the guy! I thought it was some crazy guy they were searching for! Scout's sheltermates saw him in town later and started referring to him as Hollywood because people everywhere were looking for him, how funny!Certain tried her hand at yogi-ing (the art of "letting" food be given to you) a can of Pringles tonight. First, she told me how hungry she was and how bad she wanted the Pringles - she looked like a desperate child. Then, she turns to Scout and says, "man, who has the nerve to leave food sitting out on the table?" Scout, being a nice guy, immediately tells her to eat them. Impressive. She ate the remnants of the can and we headed to our respective homes for the night. A few moments later, Scout came over and said, "hey, who wanted the Pringles?" to which I replied (in Certain's silence), "Certain did." "Well, I just noticed the can was empty and I felt bad that I offered an empty can of chips so I have more here." "Oh. I think she ate them all and that's why they're empty", I say, again in Certain's silence. Laughter erupts from her hammock and we all laugh at the fact that she scavenged the entire can but didn't want to admit it. I'm still laughing as I write this. She was so proud of her yogi.It was nice to hang out a bit tonight, we finally had time to do that since we've had camp set up all day! Today was a good day and left me feeling better. I owe a lot of that to BearKiller and Scout - just plain nice people who can make ya laugh!- Sound of my stomach grumbling (dinner was 3.5 hours ago, it's time to eat again!), flies on my rainfly.Post Trail Thoughts:That day, at the water source, I talked to several people as they came and went. I remember that Grizzle and Chach were there and they both talked about how beat up they felt. It was odd that we all felt that way but it oddly reassured me.When I read about Scout's experience with the fire department at Walnut Mtn. Shelter, it was a live account from Wile E. Coyote saying how she was woken up in the middle of the night by the fire department and they were looking for a "boy" who was in his twenties. To me, it sounded like some oddball that took to the woods to escape something. It was funny to find out later the real story.