Date: 2016-04-26
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Campsite
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: scattered clouds

I made/ate 6 pancakes this morning, courtesy the hostel. I finished the last bit of the rollercoaster, which seemed easier than the first 9.5 miles. I came across a Garter snake, which I mistook for a rubber toy until it moved just as I had decided to pick it up. Atlas and I flip-flopped until midday, when I heard, then saw, my first rattlesnake, resulting in me screaming before I jumped back, my heart pounding. I yelled for Atlas to come look, but he didn't hear me. The snake receded to the woods, leaving me to resume my hike. I met and chatted with a NOBO thru-hiker (Piggy) and his dog as well as a day hiker (Pat) and her dog. I decided to stop at the shelter even though it was early to take the time to read, reflect, and write. My new motto (the original being "Don't die.") is "Fuck the future, fuck the past; live in the now and have a blast." I have always been a goal-driven person; focusing on reaching my destination while allowing the details to blur in order to focus on the bigger picture. I have accomplished a lot with this attitude and any would consider me a "successful" person. I've decided that while goals are great guidelines, they can blind you to the many possible avenues to reach your destination as well as alternate destinations. Life is like art; an ever evolving piece capable of repeated improvements or a complete makeover. I began the hike with an Excel spreadsheet, which was tossed in the first week. I then began planning short sections at a time, eventually simply planning day to day. Now, I make sure I have a good bit of a food, a vague idea, and live moment to moment, allowing each experience to influence future decisions. I have never been able to live this way; "real life" encompasses so much responsibility to others. I am a giver and have not been able to find a balance between my needs and the needs of others, leaving me perpetually drained and aloof during social interactions. On the trail, I literally have no idea what I may be doing an hour in the future and I love the feel of that freedom. No goals, no expectations, just feeling happy right now.P.S. While eating dinner, a woman arrived and asked if there was room at the shelter. I said there was, but a red flag went up when I noticed she was wearing a large winter coat and blue jeans and was sporting Walmart gear. Generally, these signs indicate a person is likely homeless. Although this made me a bit wary (I do hate to admit I do have negative preconceived ideas of what it means to be homeless), I've met other seemingly homeless persons along the trail with no issues. Sweeper and I continued to eat dinner at the pavilion while the woman sat on the shelter's porch talking to Giggles. Sweeper went to get something from the shelter and came back reporting the woman (Nancy) was not actually talking to Gigges, who was plugged in to her phone...we listened closer to hear her jabbering on about the Air Force kidnapping people and Rangers conspiring against her...I decided the woman was likely crazy and didn't feel like sharing a shelter with her, so I shoveled what food I could down my throat before asking Giggles if she wanted to night hike (Sweeper opted to hang his hammock under the pavilion). Giggles jumped at the opportunity to leave, so we packed up while Nancy intermingled conversations with us and conversations with herself. She informed us Rangers didn't like you to carry weapons on the trail, but that it was okay to carry a stun gun; she had a stun gun she had purchased at Cabela's. As soon as our bags were packed, we beasted away from the shelter, Giggles panting and barely able to keep up with me. When we were a safe distance away, I stopped to report the woman to the local authorities. Giggles and I hiked for about 2 hours in the dark before arriving at the campsite 5 miles away, where Atlas had set up. I felt bad I left that woman, who obviously needed help...