Date: 2009-04-17
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

The third straight double digit day!!Karma joined with a different hiker because he needs to get to Franklin by tomorrow morning, but it turns out Moonlight and I are reaching the same shelter spots as Karma, just an hour or two later. We were out of the shelter this morning at 7:45, and had an easy long downhill for several miles. Then we hit Albert Mountain. Albert is not a great distance, perhaps only a thousand yards, but it goes up a thousand feet in that space. It is a 60 degree uphill climb. It was a beast!! But we did it in 30 minutes, and were rewarded with magnificant views, a great spot for lunch, and a fire tower on top from which to take photos. We reached the 100 mile mark today! I'm starting to feel like a gosh-darn hiker. My pants are now sagging. I'm losing weight, but no idea how much. It is reassuring, and gives me some satisfaction, but I'm wondering how the heck I let myself get so big?Moonlight and I tried to hike slow today. He's got a slightly arthritic hip, and my blisters have yet to heal. Now might be a good time to explain what has become my morning routine. Sleeping on a foam pad when it is really cold in the mountains, and having gone to bed at approximately 7:30 the previous night, I begin stirring around 6:00, take a couple meds, and if possible go to the privy (or else find a convenient bush). I then stuff my sleeping bag into a stuff sack and put it in the bottom of my pack. About this time I remember I have a headlamp on my head and put it in the proper space in my pack. Next to it, at the bottom, goes my bag of clothes that I know I will not use that day. Then, after brushing my teeth, goes my toiletry kit and a pair of sunglasses, which get squeezed between the two stuff sacks. At this point I wrap up my sleeping pad and attach it to the left outside of my tent. Then comes the groundcloth that protects my tent, a piece of Tyvec that matches my tarp-tent. Then comes my sundry bag, my cookpot and stove, a cup and windscreen for the stove, and a med kit that is far bigger than is necessary. Then I go through my food bag and pull out what I plan to eat for lunch, usually about 6 oz. of granola, or pita bread with cheese. Then the food bag goes in. After the food bag goes in I usually remember that my daily toiletries are in the food bag lest a bear smell the lotion and decide it's food, so I have to open the bag and put the blistex, sunscreen, DEET, and tic-tacs in the proper side pannel. At this point I close the front opening to my Granite Gear pack, and rely on the top opening to put in the rest. Then I pull out and mix my clorine dioxine drops to purify water, mix out the right mixture, and then go fill my 2 1/2 ltr. water bottle. I treat the water and then prceed to finish packing my pack. I put my tent into it's bag and stick it on the right outside of the pack. I go add a couple small items, throw in my windbreaker, and then possibly add on top whatever clothes might be useful during the day (my fleece, or, if I'm wearing a short-sleeved shirt, my long-sleeved shirt). Then I look at the map to figure out the morning hike, something I did the previous night, but have by morning completely forgotten. By this time the water is treated and I fill my bladder and my emergency bottle. I switch out of my crocs, attach them to the back of my pack, and snug up my boots. It all takes about 45-60 minutes. Some time later I will explain the end of day procedure.Time on the computer is up, gotta go.