Date: 2013-03-07
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was a day of contrasts. There were several hard moments, but there were also very pleasant, peaceful times. Hard: It was hard to rest last night as the temperatures dipped into the lower teens, and I laid on a wooden platform next to "Grizzly Bear," a champion snorer. Hard: It was hard to start the day with toes and hands that were painfully cold. It was hard to pack up my gear with fingers that didn't want to perform any normally simple tasks. Hard: It was hard to descend a little over 1000 feet in the first 1.5 miles we hiked. Snow and ice made the descent quite treacherous.Hard: It was hard to immediately ascend 1,067 feet in the next 1.4 miles to the summit of Rocky Mountain. Pleasant: It was pleasant to take an extended mid-morning break on Rocky Mountain. Pleasant: It was pleasant to be surprised by "trail magic" as we descended 900 feet to the Indian Grove Gap. "Bean" and "Drum Solo" are students at Penn State. They were here on their spring break. Together they thru-hiked the A.T. in 2011. Last year, and again this year, they returned to give back to the trail by encouraging others. Their "trail magic" included some real delicacies including delicious smoked cheese. We talked with them and also met several other hikers as they stopped for some "trail magic."Hard: It was hard to ascend 1300 feet to the summit of Tray Mountain (4,430 feet). Pleasant: It was pleasant to take in the almost 360 degree view at the summit. On this clear day, it was awesome! Pleasant/Hard: As we started the descent off of Tray Mountain, it was around 2:00pm. It was pleasant as the terrain was relatively easy (by A.T. standards). Because there are no leaves on the trees, we continued to enjoy very good views. It was hard because we were weary by the time we stopped hiking around 5:00pm. Pleasant: Hoosier and I found a nice spot and stealth camped by a great water source. ("Stealth camping" is when you don't camp near a shelter or at a designated spot. As long as you move off the trail a little ways you can camp where ever you want, except in the Great Smokies National Park. Usually Hoosier and I stayed at or near shelters and other designated spots in order to be around more people and those spots had outhouses.) An hour or so after we had set up our camp for the evening, Camaro and her dog, Chevy, came by. I guess she got good vibes from Hoosier and me (we weren't scary or crazy) and so decided to set up her tent near ours. I was able to get a nice fire going, and it was very pleasant to be comfortable talking around the campfire and getting to meet Camaro. Her Dad drove her to the trail from their home in Manitoba, Canada and then turned around and drove back. (I couldn't imagine dropping off my daughter miles from home on an adventure she really wasn't prepared for.) Camaro claims she had seen only pictures of mountains before this trip. She has no camping or backpacking experience, but saw an article in National Geographic and decided she wanted to hike the AT with her dog. She began with a 70 pound backpack and was able to only finish 4 miles on the approach trail on her first day. She has been struggling with leg injuries but is determined to keep going and make it.(POST NOTE: Camaro continued to struggle with leg injuries but also showed herself to be one of the toughest most determined hikers on the trail. At outfitters along the trail she purchased better and lighter equipment. Ultimately her own leg injuries and her dog becoming lame caused her to have to finish her hike after about 1,500 miles. Which is a remarkable accomplishment.)