Date: 2014-05-22
From: range view cabin

To: Tom Floyd Hut
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: clear sky

Went to bed last night in my hiking clothes with a plan to wake up at 4:30 to leave using a headlamp and get a jump on the 16 mile day. I figured it would hurt my feelings less to start out needing a headlamp to leave camp than to need a head lamp to get into camp that night. After a sleepless night with a fellow hiker,to remain nameless, snoring like a rhythm section with no rhythm, I did indeed wake at 4:30 and headed out to the trail in the dark. Pitch. Dark. Bear country. I figured if I was killed by a bear, two things would be true. First, my family would be sad but vindicated and put something like "we told her not to go" on my tombstone. Second, I would not have to hike 16 miles. So I was without fear. I heard the forest come to life and the sunrise at an overlook. I saw deer who followed me about 100 feet. I came to an area fenced off for peregrine falcons nesting and saw them feeding their young. I saw a stupid rabbit that jumpd across the trail in the dark and just about caused me to have to stop and change my pants. I ate a banana, purchased for about $10 at the wayside, on a rock outcrop overlooking mist covered farms. I ate granola and milk from a ziplock bag from another outcrop. Then, after a tough climb, I had a protein bar on another outcrop and overlook. Then i realized it was 9 o'clock and I had eaten most of my food and still had 12 miles to go. So I started to walk faster and trust my instincts and nothing hurt. Not my bad knee, nor my sciatica, nor my 10 blisters, nor my balanced for equal amounts of pain on my shoulders and hips pack. Nothing hurt. I hiked faster and the downs were easier on my knees. I did not blow out a lung on the ups. And it happened. I became a hiker. I was enjoying the views and nature. I saw bears again. I noticed wildflowers I had not seen. I hiked up a tough climb and was running low in water and it was sunny and hot. But I knew the map showed a little stream crossing the trail and another hiker said there was water ahead. So I kept at it and there was the stream. All by myself, I took out a pack of tuna to cool in the water and dipped up some water to filter. That pack of tuna and cold mountain stream water was the best meal I have ever had. It was also the last of my food. It was 1:30 and I had about six miles to go. My group caught up to me. Now that makes it sound like we all left at 5 and I was in the lead. Nope. I left at 5:00 and they left at 6:45 and caught up to me. Hey, there were lots of overlooks and snacks! Anyway, we hiked the rest of the way and turned off to the hut. The site was a De Sade masterpiece, chosen for a decent down, a long way down, covered with bowling ball size rocks. I picked and hopped my way down and it finally dawned on me. I just hiked 16 miles and enjoyed it. My body felt stronger, surer, and able. I was tired but I didn't hurt anywhere. It was all I wanted this to be. I happily pitched my tent, checked for ticks, and enjoyed the cast of characters at the hut. I took 12 hours to hike 16 miles. But I enjoyed my time and finished. There was no prize for first and no shame for last. After all of the last two weeks trials and tribulations, I was a real hiker. Priceless!