Date: 2010-02-02
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Woody gap
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

"Your mission, should you decide to accept it..."                                       Mission ImpossibleThe yips and howls of coyotes, along with the cold, hard floor boards of the shelter kept me from getting a good night's sleep - even with 12 hours in the sleeping bag. It was a beautiful night though. The moon, just past full made the entire area glow. Some of the light reflected off the snow and ice, shining up through the cracks between the floorboards.I had offered earplugs to my fellow shelter inhabitants, but neither one took me up on the offer. I didn't hear any complaints the next morning. I didn't ask either.Breakfast was a leisurely affair as David and I chatted. Kevin slept in a bit. Packing up took quite a while. I kept fussing with things, and packing items deep in the recesses of the pack, only to find that I still needed them and then starting over. I'm sure it will soon be a quick and easy process, but for now it takes quite a while.David decided to head back toward Springer since Moose didn't seem to be doing that well with the ice and snow, despite the booties he was wearing. I didn't remember to check the time, but it must have been pushing 10:00 by the time I left the shelter. Kevin had left just a little while before me.As I walked along I admired my Yax-Trax and how much they seemed to be helping. You see, I hate falling. I hate feeling like I might fall. So I am very tentative when the footing is the least bit in question. I tense and take tiny baby steps when everyone else strides in a carefree manner over the same terrain. But with these babies on my feet I was walking almost normally. I was only disappointed that I'd already broken the velcro strap on one. I'd adjusted it the best I could and kludged a fix with a small velco tie. So far so good.The notorious Sasafrass Mountain was just some up - well graded. It took time and a lot of huffing and puffing, but no real problem on such a gorgeous day. I continued up hill and down dale.As the day warmed I peeled layers to avoid getting overheated on the uphills. In the sun it was toasty and much of the snow and ice had already melted, but it remained in the shady areas. The sky was a lovely blue with thin clouds gathering on the horizon.At some point after Cooper's Gap I realized that my right Yax-Trax, the mended one had disappeared. Crud! I went back a short way on the trail but didn't see it. I decided not to retrace my steps. The ice was still pelting me from the trees. In some areas the chunks of ice had piled up on the trail 2-3 inches deep. Some of the pieces were at least 6 inches long with a diameter of more than an inch (with one section missing where the ice had broken through - much like a banana with one strip of peel missing.I arrived at Gooch Gap Shelter at 2:30. I pondered what to do. I could stay, having already put in more than 7 miles. But the day was lovely, and while I was already tired and hungry, I felt I had enough in me that I could press on.So here was the choice. I could stay and lounge in the sunshine now and do these miles in the rain forecast for ovenight and into the morning. Or I could try for Woody Gap, 5 miles distant. From there I could try to get a place at the squeaky clean Hiker Hostel, spend the night in comfort and then resume hiking in the morning (maybe after the worst of the rain had passed). It seemed like a clear choice to me. Besides, I reasoned, if I'm going to take bad weather days off, then that means I have to put in as many miles as I can when the weather is fair.I broke my usual rule of not using my phone while actually on the trail. I called and left a voice mail for Josh letting him know of my plans. With that I was committed. I knew I was taking a chance that I wouldn't be able to get a place since I hadn't reached Josh directly, but figured that many of the trees had shed their ice in the warmer temperatures and that I would be able to find a place to set up my tent in a worst case.I became a woman with a mission. I knew I had only a few hours of good light left and, given my usual hiking pace, would have trouble making it. Especially already tired as I was. But the day was fine, so I strapped the pack back on, said my farewells to Kevin who was in at the shelter, and was off.Later I turned my phone back on to see what time it was so I could judge my progress and was greeted with the soft chime I use as a ringtone. Talk about great timing! It was Josh to talk over the situation. He had another pickup scheduled for that time, but I was welcome at the hostel. I might be on my own as far as making it the 7 miles there after I made it to Woody Gap.With nervous glances I watched the sun sink lower. I grew more tired and noticed tender places on my feet that I hadn't really noticed before. But my mission was to obtain a hot shower, clean clothes and bed for the night. I pushed to make the last couple of miles. I was out of water and feeling beat. But at 5:40 I tumbled off the trail into the parking lot. Look at that! Across the road there was a car with some of the occupants looking at the roadside display. I hobbled over and explained the situation, asked for a ride, and offered to pay gas money. The family immediately made space for me, graciously turned down the offer of money, and drove me to the door of the hostel. At 6:00 I was unlacing my boots on the porch. Thank you very much Lyn and family!After a hot shower and a much needed meal (made withOUT having to purify water first) I felt much better and was up for some journaling. Then slipping between the clean sheets I was ready for a good night's sleep.Mission accomplished.