Date: 2014-09-04
From: Winturri shelter

To: Stony Creek shelter
Miles today: 10.0

September 4--Winturri Shelter to Stony Creek shelter--10 milesThe morning humidity was palpable. Climbing was difficult and sweat dripped from our foreheads before 7:30. I was already wondering why I backpacked and today was only the fourth day out. Siva is a much stronger hiker than I am, so she was able to saunter along while I did the slug step up the trail. She skipped ahead of me, hiking the extra .2 mile to the observation tower and cabin while I slumped along. I thought the tower was a mile and a half so I was completely demoralized when I looked at my watch and saw that over an hour had passed without reaching the turn for the tower. Finally, I came upon two graybeards who were Northbounders. They had chosen to take a break by the sign for the tower instead of hiking up to it. We sat and chatted for a bit, and then they pointed out that the sign said the shelter was TWO and a half miles from where we were sitting. What a psychological boost that was. Is gone two and a half miles! That was much better than a mile and a half! Siva emerged from the tower trail, glowing from the thrill of climbing to the top of the tower and taking in the view. We started out again, but she sped up and was soon out of sight. The path was pleasant except that it was an ascent on a very humid morning. Finally, it evened out and I was able to speed up. The descent was easy and I found that I was strolling along at a good pace. Siva had waited for me so we hiked together for a little while, eating blackberries and commenting on the moose droppings we had noticed. By lunchtime, we reached a wonderful Brook. Actually, lunchtime is whenever we call it, and it's usually beside water. We were told that a fire is "hippie tv" because hikers can sit for hours staring at it. Flowing water is just another channel on our hippie tv. We chilled our feet and munched on our lunch items--cheese, fritoes, jerky, and two pieces of dried guava. Yum!Rested and fed, we took off again. The trail was a pleasant walk and soon I was in my happy space again, meandering along the trail. In the heat of the afternoon, I reached a brook with deep pools. Siva had spent a long time luxuriating in the cool water and was ready to leave by the time I arrived. I spotted a deep pool and could not pass it up. I stripped down to my underwear that doubles as a swimsuit--it's neon yellow with big teal flowers. I eased my sweaty body in to the deep pool until the water reached my chin. As I sat there, all the sweat and muscle aches and stickiness of the day floated away. Totally relaxed, I put my stinky hiking clothes on, shouldered my pack, and happily walked along the trail. Before long, I reached the climb up to the shelter. But the happiness of that swim carried me up the steep climb. Soon, I recognized the brook that was the water source for the shelter. I filled my water bottles and again slid into a deep pool. Totally waterlogged from the day's dips, i was eager to set up my tent, eat dinner and go to bed.The shelter conversation was very interesting tonight. A former Spanish teacher named Kent and his dog are thru hiking south. A young couple who are new to backpacking--the young woman is a teacher from Israel and the guy was her assistant but is from Virginia. I got a kick out of them as they fumbled through their stuff, trying to make dinner. The guy seemed to have an endless supply of stuff in his pockets and kept pulling out a variety of things. It was hard not to laugh. I'm in my tent and the night air is chilly. An owl just hooted in the distance and the sky has darkened. Hiker midnight. Life is good!