Date: 2003-08-16
From: Stream at 1420.50

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 8.2
Weather: light rain

We woke up this morning faced with a steep rock scramble. I found myself wishing we had gone ahead and climbed it last night, but we were just too beat! So, still wiping the sleep from our eyes, we started climbing. I immediately knew that this was going to be one of those hard days. Muscles protesting and lungs aching, I went up and up. We were within a mile and a half of the next shelter, so we stopped to filter water and take a break. At this point in the day, I was just glad to have made it that far!   The trail today is really quite nice, and if my body, and most especially my feet, had cooperated, I would have had a great day! The woods are so different from what we have been seeing. The trail goes up and down constantly, but they are short, steep little ups and downs. There are tons of rocks, but many are so big that the trail traverses them for dozens of feet ata time. I am feeling much more surefooted, so I am kind of enjoying the rocks today! The biggest difference in the New York path, though, is the soil. It is black. And when it gets wet, it is literally jet black! In contrast to the green of the plant life, it is just beautiful.    Since we are traversing a lot of lowlands, the soil stays quite damp, and the resuting array of fungii is incredible! We are walking through a fairy land of mushrooms, and I half expect to see elves peeking out from under them! Many of them are tiny and colorful, like the ones back in Virginia, but there are also huge, delicate white ones with fluted edges. Every shade of yellow from mustard to sunshine is represented, and I even saw one, no joke, that looks exactly like the bun on a Big Mac! Hiding in between all of these are delicate purple-capped mushroms and fungi that looks exactly like the coral you would find in the ocean. All of these things keep my mind occupied as I walk up and down the mountains, and I find myself wishing that I had a better camera! Midway through our afternoon, we came to Nuclear Lake, a beautiful place with a swimming area. I would love to tell you that I strolled to the lake, reclined back and let the cool breeze caress me. However, the truth of it is that I staggered towards the water, threw my sleeping pad down, and collapsed into a sweat-soaked heap! With legs quivering and feet afire, I prayed that the ticks would leave me alone long enough to rest my feet. Bumpkin was already there, sitting on a rock out in the middle of the water. As she fed the fish, I lay back and prayed for a breeze. I also prayed for a helicopter to wisk down and take me away, but the breeze was a more practical prayer! :) I dozed off for a few minutes til the sound of snoring woke me up. Was that me?! the sound of far off thunder spurred me to sit up and abandon all thoughts of staying there. We gathered our things and hit the trail again.   As I hiked the final three miles today, I found myself going round and round with my own personal demons. Looking at the mileage, it looks like it is unlikely that I will finish the whole trail this year, and that really bothers me. It doesn't bother me for myself, mind you. But so many people are supporting me in this journey, and many of them are paying a certain price for me to be out here. Will these people be disapointed in me? Am I letting them down? Many people think that we left stress behind when we came out here, but we all carry our fair share. These are my greatest stressors, and they are weighing heavy on my mind tonight.   After finally reaching the shelter, and cooking a quick dinner, I found myself laying in my tent listening to Prarie Home Companion. Mark O'Connor began playing the most beautiful, simple version of "America The Beautiful" I have ever heard. Tears streamed down my face as the impact of just how lucky I am hit me.Fierce gratitude chased away all my doubts, and a sense of sureness filled me. As I lay here listening to the animals outside of my tent scurry around, I decide that tomorrows hike wll be easier. I won't be carrying so much baggage! :)Love, Anna aka Mud Buttwww.trailjournals.com