Date: 2013-01-13
From: Franklin, NC

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 4.2
Weather: light rain

The past two days have been incredible. I stayed at Carter Gap Shelter on the night of the 10th and awoke at 5am for another early start. I had actually woken up several times during the night, either from the pounding rain on the tin roof, the howling wind or my mouse paranoia. I did decide to hang my wool hiking shirt inside my food bag, 12 feet in a tree and 100 feet from the shelter. I thought SURELY those efforts combined with the hard rain would deter the mice. Boy, was I ever wrong.When I brought my food bag back I was aghast to find that the mice DID go out in the rain for my food. Er, for my shirt. They chewed two holes in my high dollar dry sack, ransacked my garbage, nibbled on my already low supply of cereal bars and chewed several more little holes in my poor shirt including a GIGANTIC one in the left arm pit. I couldn't believe it.I spent my morning packing camp in a very flustered and annoyed state and got on the trail right at 7. As I set the pace for the 15.9 miles to come the puzzle pieces started connecting in my brain and I learned a valuable lesson. In Ecclesiastes (which, btw, I finished) the theme is vanity. The writer's point is that EVERYTHING we strive for and slave after in this world is pointless, temporary and vain. Then my mind shifted to some wisdom found in Matthew 6: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust *or mice* destroy and where thieves *or mice* break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."You paid good money for your food bag and your fancy wool shirt? The mice do not care. You bought a fancy, shiny car? That drunk driver, black ice and vandal do not care. Your house is the nicest one in the neighborhood? That fire doesn't care. That thief doesn't care. DEATH does not care.And I quickly realized the folly of pursuing THINGS. My money is better used elsewhere for the good of those who need help. I have more of it than I need. I could be hiking in a Goodwill shirt and hanging my food in a much cheaper plastic bag. And it's so true that where your treasure is there your heart is too. We get absolutely CONSUMED by our possessions, and believe you me, I am one of the biggest offenders. People's personalities change because of stuff, people KILL for stuff, people spend the whole of their measly few years on this earth acquiring as much stuff as they can. Marriages are broken, hearts are broken, and worlds turned upside down because of our LUST for stuff.There is nothing more therapeutic than the rhythmic pounding of your feet on a mountain trail. When your legs move the gears in your head start to turn. I had a very good pace that day and determined to make it to Franklin that night. The added ventilation in my left armpit helped I arrived at Winding Stair Gap at 2:30pm, and to make a long story short, after 30 minutes of unsuccessful hitch hiking attempts and several phone calls I was scooped up by an extremely generous couple, Bill and Pam Peterson. I'm telling you, they are spoiling me! I just asked for a ride to the nearest pizza joint and what I got instead was two nights at their home with all the trimmings! Food, laundry, internet, a warm bed and plenty of laughs and deep conversation. I am a spoiled and blessed thru hiker. Bill even went through the trouble of finding and buying a knife sheath for that S.O.G. knife I found, so I'll be carrying it with me from now on. Scrunch came to visit yesterday and they opened up their home to her as well for the night. We're both going to attend church with them this morning. What a beautiful couple - a true tribute to God's grace and a perfect example of generosity and love. I hope God continues to bless them.I plan to get back on the trail this afternoon by 3 and hike a short 4.2 miles to Siler Bald Shelter for the night. I spent last night fixing the dozens of mouse holes in my gear and rigging up a mouse deterrent from an oil pan. We'll see if it works. I have friends coming to spend next weekend with me at Stecoah Gap, which is only 40 miles away. I will have a very leisurely pace this week. After I get further north it's full steam ahead. Based off this week's hiking I am confident I am capable of consistent 20 mile days. I should be able, God willing, to finish the trail in late May/early June, which is a decent pace but still allows me the time and flexibility to enjoy myself. Oh, btw, I've switched to my Salomon boots. They're much lighter and not insulated for the winter, but I think they'll suit me just fine. I'm also sending about 2 lbs of unwanted gear home with Scrunch, putting my pack weight around 30 lbs base or 45 lbs with 6 days of food and 2 liters of water. I realize that's more food than I need, but I don't want to stop at every town. If I start hiking an average of 18 miles a day I can make it over 100 miles between resupplies. This next week or so will see me through Fontana Village where I'll get to spend some time at the ever popular Nantahala Outdoor Center. The border of the Smokies is only 57 miles away. I'll need to push through them hard and fast so I don't freeze to death (calm down, I'm only kidding). That's all for now. Thanks for reading!