Date: 2015-10-02
From: ATC Blackburn Center 

To: Bear Den Hostel
Miles today: 8.0

It is still raining! I had a hard time getting up this morning because the cabin was so dark, and I always have a hard time getting up early when I am cold. I kept waking up during the night from the smell of cigarettes, so I finally got up at 3am and walked over to the porch of the private cabin to charge my phone. Flipper Fins, I saw your message about more food critiques, and I realized I was starving and that I ha only eaten a pack of peanut butter crackers and a small pack of albacore tuna with sundries tomatoes and olive oil for dinner. This version of tuna was super good by the way, and I will have to buy it again. I have my stove and fuel again and my homemade dehydrated food, but I find I don't even want to cook when I am cold. Thanks for all your encouragement Flipper Fins and everybody else as well. Truck, I just saw your email and you made my day. Thanks! I can't emphasize enough how great it was to stop at the Blackburn Center and how thankful I am for this donation based destination on a cold and wet night. Trail Boss and Sandy were so kind. So off into the rain I went. The first four miles were easy and pleasant I thought I might be on the wrong trail. But I could tell from the frequent and freshly painted white blazes that I was on the AT. Trail Boss and his crew have to be commended for their trail maintenance. Thank you. The trail was pretty and and put me in a good mood despite the cold rain. I kept my mind engaged by entertaining thoughts of hiking 17.5 miles today to the second shelter. I would be the bomb and redeem myself somewhat for all my low mileage days recently. At 4 miles I came to Hiker Warning sign from Trail Boss about a 13.5 mile roller coaster I was about to enter. I've heard other hikers talk about this section so I was a little concerned. At this time the rain picked up and I was bitter cold and soaking wet. My gloves were drenched and my finger tips were numb. When I took my pack off to get a snack I could barely move my fingers and wrists to release the straps on my pack. My hip and knee started hurting with every step. Yesterday I felt like I had pulled a groin muscle so maybe it is related. It's crazy because this trail is such a piece of cake compared to what I've done. The roller coaster felt easy to me except for the rocks which made me wonder if they were flown in from Pennsylvania. Of course I only did 4 miles of it today. Maybe it will change significantly tomorrow. I've been at the tail end of a bad cold since my last day in Maine, and I don't want it to have an excuse to get worse. The colder I got the less entertaining my long day became. I stopped at 8 miles at the Bear Den Hostel also owned by the PATC, and here I sit in a comfy chair in front of the fireplace all warm and cozy. What a wise choice I made! The 4 section hikers and 2 SOBO'S Gladiator and Mud Socks who were at Blackburn last night are here as well. I'm not the only one who thought it too wet and cold. Tonight I supposed to be the worst of the weather from what we hear now. It is very rainy and nasty out now. I had a hot shower and pizza here as well. This place is awesome and looks like a huge rock mansion with beautiful spacious grounds. My wet clothes are just finishing up in the dryer now, and the caretaker just put a few more logs on the fire. My bunk bed is all set up and ready for me. Life is great right now!