Date: 2017-05-08
From: Loft Mountain Campground

To: Hightop Hut
Miles today: 15.3
Weather: clear sky

Today was the most fun I've had in awhile. I slept until 6 AM when I was woken up by the rat-a-tat-tat of a couple woodpeckers. It was only 28 degrees and I had a really hard time getting out of the warm feathers that surrounded me. I finally managed to get up and had a couple deer in my campsite while I packed up. They didn't seem to even notice that they were so close to me. My campsite in the campground was mere feet from the trail and I was headed north in no time. There were several great views as the trail walked around the campground, but it was to cold to stand around very long. I walked about 3 miles or so and took another side trail to get back to the wayside for a hot breakfast of bacon and eggs. I love breakfast and yes, I walked an extra mile off trail to get some. I weighed myself at Stanimals and the scale said I lost 15 pounds already. I don't know how accurate the scale was, but everyone else thought it was saying they weighed too much. I'm trying to take advantage of the waysides to get some calories in me. The whole side trip took about 45 minutes of my day.The hike down to and back up from Ivy Springs was very muddy and wet. There was even a nice waterfall right on the trail. I climbed up to the Ivy Creek Overlook to a parking lot with a nice view. The sun was out and I sat on the rock wall enjoying the view and soaking up some rays. It still wasn't super warm as I hiked all day with my fleece, but I'll take what I can get. KJ walked up and joined me for a spell until we decided we needed to get walking.  I was in no rush today knowing I only had 15 miles to do. I took my time and walked a slow steady pace all day. I could tell the weekend was over, because I didn't see many day hikers out today. I didn't see many backpackers while walking either.  I did see the most beautiful blue bird, a indigo bunting maybe. Simply gorgeous!I was walking on a very nice flat piece of trail with no rocks or roots. I was looking around and next thing I know I was laying stretched out on the trail. I never did figure out what I tripped over. HahaI climbed up another mountain and found another sunny rock outcrop with a nice view. I stopped there for another extended break and up walks KJ again. I really like sunny rocks with views. We had about 3 miles to go to the hut as we headed out. He took off and I kept my slow and steady pace. The last couple of climbs had some really steep sections, but they didn't last long.  I arrived at the hut to find many hikers already here. I always wonder why I never see them during the day. There is a mix of short and long section hikers and thru-hikers. I love the short section hikers because they like to make fires. Always nice. While we were sitting there up walked Steaks, a section hiker I met Saturday night out on his first trip. Super nice guy.  KJ and I tried to figure out what to hike tomorrow, but came to no conclusion. The first hut is in 12 miles and then Big Meadows is at 20 miles. To stealth anywhere between the two means lugging water from the hut at 12. Quite the decision to be made tomorrow.