Date: 2016-04-13
From: Silver Bald summit

To: Rocky Bald on the ridge
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: clear sky

Last night was the warmest I have been. The full under quilt my brother sent me and figuring out how to properly attach it made all the difference. I awoke this morning to see the sunrise while laying in my hammock. I am so glad I stayed on top of the mountain last night. It was nice to get up and have the whole area all to myself. I took my time and enjoyed the morning and did not worry about getting going on the trail. I liked it. I ate breakfast and I sat in the sun. There is nothing like the morning sun right in your face. I slowly took down my camp and packed my stuff up and the headed out around 9:00am. It was a very sunny nice morning, but in the afternoon it became mostly cloudy, but no rain and great hiking weather. It was strange today because I did not run into any other thru hikers until right before I stopped for the day. It is interesting the dynamic out here. There are several different types of thru hikers. Let me go though them. You have single people who seem to group up and they stay somewhat together. You have actual groups of friends. You have couples, and then you have the loners. People who come here by themselves and do not group up, but do there own thing. This would be me. Kind of just like how I am back home. The thing I like about being out here is that nobody judges you and no matter how you hike the trail. There is a connection between all of us. It is like there is a hikers code, and the code is to be nice, be giving, be helpful, be encouraging. It is pretty awesome. It is also interesting how there are so many different personality types out here. You name it, it is here. There are people from all different walks of life. It is so cool. I do hope to become more social and just like at home I do way better in small groups then large ones, maybe that is why I am not staying at the shelters much. I am loving being by myself right now. I spend a lot of time with God. Time thinking about a lot of very personal things. I thank God for this fresh mountain air that is for sure. It is the best. I guess I am off track a bit here, but this is my journal and this is what I am thinking. So back to the hike today. I spent the morning hiking six miles with several good ups and downs to get over to Wayah Bald Mountain. When I reach the mountain there was a parking area with trail magic set up. This nice man had all kinds of things for the thru hikes coming by. I had a hard boiled egg, a banana, a couple of cinnamon rolls, and a gatorade. After getting some of the trail magic I walked around the parking lot looking at the views. I checked my email and made a few calls. Eventually I headed down the trail, but I did not get far when I came upon an old rebuilt tower structure. The views were awesome looking down the valley and it was just one mountain range after another. I took some pictures, but it is just not even close to the same as seeing it with your own eyes. I spent about 15 minutes there and then headed down the trail. The afternoon was nice and peaceful. The woods are beautiful. And the birds were singing up a storm. I am finally starting to see some buds on some of the vegetation. It will not be long and I will be in the green tunnel. I had four good climbs today. I came up to Cold Spring Shelter at 4:00pm. I filtered some water and was going to stay, but I thought I would go the three tenths of of mile to the top of the mountain where my guide book says there are views and see if I could find a nice spot up there to make camp. I walked and walked but never saw any great view. I probably walked a half a mile and then I was too far past the shelter to go back. I walked on for a few more miles until I found I nice little spot up on a ridge. It was perfect for my hammock set up. It was 5:15pm and I hiked about 13 miles. So this is my spot for the night. I am all alone again. When I make camp the first thing I like to do is find a place to hang my food. It can take me a bit of time to find the right branch and then get my rope over it. I eventually get my rope over it and have it all set up so when I am ready to hang my food it is all set up and only takes just a second to raise it up into the trees. After I do that, I empty my pack and set up my hammock and tarp. Then I make dinner. Then I get all my food for tomorrow ready to go. Then brush my teeth. Then hang my food and other stuff. Then organize my bag. Then into bed and here I am. It was another good day. It feels so good to be warm. Good night.