Date: 2005-04-05
From: Elmer's Sunnydale Inn

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.2
Weather: broken clouds

Miles hiked today : 11.2 mi11.0 AT miles + 0.2 miles of side trailI woke up this morning at 7:30 a.m. after comfortably sleeping in a full size bed with real blankets. It was a bit chilly at certain points during the night, but burrowing beneath the blankets seemed to do the trick.I repacked my foodbag, surprised to see that my Mom had added several packages of single serving fig newtons and other goodies to my maildrop. The best addition was a pound of roasted cashews, yum!Breakfast, prepared by Elmer, was ready at 8:30 a.m. This time, the bell DID make a really loud clang, clang noise. Perhaps it was because I was closer to the bell this morning, whereas last night I'd been on the upstairs balcony. Breakfast was thick pancakes, granola, strawberries, as well as canteloupe and honeydew melon.After breakfast, I stopped by the outfitter to buy pepperjack cheese and pop-tarts and finished updating my Trailjournal. I went back to my room, set aside some items to mail home, and settled up with Elmer, paying only $23 for two excellent meals and an overnight stay. I stopped by the post office, though it was closed for lunchtime, so I went back to the outfitter, bought a couple bananas and a postcard to send to Ammo & Mason.By the time I finished writing the postcard, the post office was open. The items I removed from my bag to send home weighed nearly 2 pounds.After the post office, I headed out of town, though the hot spring spa was on the way. I had an hour long soak for $10. 30 minutes would have been enough, though they only sell 1 hour increments, so I used what I paid for. The business itself is a litle suspect, as you actually soak in a hot tub, rather than a hot spring and the water temperature was not at 102 degrees F, as is advertised. In the end, however, it was nice to soak in warm water with the jets turned on.I finally left Hot Springs at 2:15 p.m. My pack felt good, as I'd figured out what was wrong with the straps and remedied the situation. Immediately out of Hot Springs was a steep 500 foot climb and the temperature was a toasty 87 degrees F.I made good time today, covering 4.0 miles to Pump Gap in 1 hour, 45 minutes. This was especially good, considering the heat and that the 4.0 miles was mostly climbing. During the climb, I spotted several lizards, one of which was kind enough to sit on a rock while I snapped pictures.The only other major obstacle toay was a 1,270 foot climb up to Rich Mountain. There was a 0.2 mile roundtrip side trail to the summit, upon which I found a decommissioned fire tower. I climbed up into it at 7:00 p.m. and found Cotton Joe with 3 other hikers. I enjoyed the 360 degree view for a few minutes, then continued on.Due to a math error on my part, I thought that I only had 1.9 miles to go until the shelter. So when I hadn't arrived by 8:00 p.m., I thought that perhaps I'd missed the shelter. I continued on, startling a pair of deer just before finally arriving at Spring Mountain Shelter at 8:15 p.m. Upon checking the data book, I'd actually gone 2.7 miles in about 1 hour, 10 minutes. I believe the only reason I am able to do fast miles at the end of the day is because I know I'll get to eat dinner once I'm there.I'm in my tent tonight. The pole that Sierra Designs sent me is used and appears to be from another company, but it works, so I'm happy. I have a maildrop in Erwin, which is 57.0 miles away. If I hurry, I can pick up my maildrop on Saturday morning. Otherwise, I'll have to take a zero day on Sunday to wait for the post office to open on Monday.While setting up my tent, I found my missing glove, which had been at the foot of my tent. I hadn't used my tent since camping out near A. Rufus Morgan shelter just before the NOC, more than 100 miles ago, and had been certain that was where I had lost it. The amusing thing is that I mailed home the other glove earlier this afternoon.Bedtime at 11:00 p.m.