Date: 2010-05-03
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 21.3
Weather: light rain

My decision to sleep in the shelter last night proved true as the rain began late in the evening and lasted until morning. My tent works fine in the rain but not having to deal with a wet tent and ground cover is just one less hassle. With the rain coming down I'm in no hurry to get up, and in fact am quite comfortable lying in my sleeping bag on this gray morning, watching the gentle rainfall outside the shelter and listening to the birds welcome the rainfall. I finally motivate, gathering and organizing my gear for the days hike, and am on the trail by 8:30a.I'm not certain of my destination today, the options being either 15.5 miles or 21.3. The elevation profile doesn't look too intimidating; a long steady (but not overly steep) climb over the first 1/3 followed by a walk along the ridgeline, and then mostly downhill to the shelter at 21.3. The elevation profile doesn't show the terrain though and the weather could also play a factor so I don't look too far ahead.I set out in my rain jacket since it was raining only moments ago and walk for 20 minutes before the rain jacket has to come off. The sky is gray but no rain and in fact it feels like it's raining on the inside of my jacket from all the perspiration. Even though the rain has stopped the humidity must be at 99%, not a puff of wind (other than the 2 m.p.h. breeze generated by my walking pace), and the temps are actually very mild causing me to quickly sweat through the bandana on my head. I enjoy walking through a wet forest though, all sounds are muted and hushed, except for the bird calls which carry louder and further in the damp environment. I make good time over the first part of the hike and am feeling better about going for the 21.7. It's still gray but less so and I begin to think that the rain has abated for the day.The middle third of the hike brings the unexpected curveball. The elevation profile showed a ridgeline walk which can really mean anything but in this case it means boulder hopping and short careful steps over narrow and steep rocky protusions. These rocks would be tricky without a pack, much less carrying the additional 34lb load on my back. My pace slows dramatically to navigate this terrain and I begin to wonder again about the 21.3 goal. I endure though and finish the section around 3:00 leaving a mostly downhill 6 miles to the shelter.Walking 20-plus miles is challenging but has gotten easier as I've gotten my trail legs under me. Still, the the thing that seems to hurt on the big mileage days regardless are the bottoms of my feet. To get an idea of the feeling of this foot ache (that seems to set in for me around the 12-13 mile mark)go into your mothers pantry, pull out her wooden rolling pin, and whack the bottoms of your feet until they have a nice bruisy feeling. This is usually how my feet feel at the end of the day.I make the 21.3 miles and with my late afternoon arrival decide to stay in the shelter, again just one less chore not having to pitch a tent. Other than some achy feet which will feel better in the morning I'm in good shape. The shelter is full of familiar faces - Scatters, Squirrel, Hand Me Down, Miles, Ugly Tuna, Dumpster Bear, Mountain Tattoo, and 3 new faces who just joined the trail in Hot Springs. We enjoy dinner together and a campfire before retiring for the night.