Date: 2017-11-02
To: Tented past Stan Murray
Miles today: 11.8
Weather: snow

11/2Campsite at 1807.911.8 milesI had a pretty great day today. I slept well on my camouflage sheets at the hostel. When I awoke and went out to the common room, I found hot coffee which had apparently brewed on a timer. Looking around, I found clean coffee mugs on the shelf nearby. The mugs were enormous, which suited me just fine. I poured a generous cup and took it back to my little room to eat and pack up. I waited until it was dim morning to leave. I didn't want to walk on the shoulder of the highway in full dark. Once I could see things outside, I set off. My pack felt heavy with four days of food, despite starting with less water than usual. I knew there would be springs in the first miles, and I had a 2600 foot climb to start my day. Better to get water later rather than carry an extra two pounds up that hill. I had the massive luck to be the only person on Big Hump. You can see for miles in all directions, as it's an enormous bald. I saw a raven but no other birds, no mammals, no people. Just me and some caterpillars. It was indescribably wonderful to climb up there completely alone. I felt like I owned the mountain. The only sounds were my breathing and the wind in the grass. Crossing the next gap I started seeing hikers and had to give up my hold on solitude. Near the top of Little Hump I ran into Sierra, Sleepy Bear and JD. JD fed me macadamia, cranberry, and white chocolate cookies from the bakery they visited this morning. They clearly enjoyed their time at Doe Rest (I think it's called). If I had caught up with them yesterday before paying at Mountain Harbor I would have joined them. It all worked out though. And they say that tomorrow they're getting on the trail with packs. I'm camped still 3 miles north of Carver Gap where they'll start. If I'm lucky they'll be feeling the weight of their packs and I'll be able to catch up with them tomorrow. After a long period of slackpacking, it's definitely hard to carry a heavy pack again. JD mentioned a package of chicken salad that somebody had left at Overmountain Shelter. Sure enough, when I got there, there was a little Bumblebee box. No shelter log, sadly. I took the box and sat for a bit, gazing at the view. It was early afternoon. The shelter felt very empty and cold with no other hikers there. I picked up my pack and set off for Stan Murray shelter. At Stan Murray, only 1.9 miles away, it was much cozier in that it slept only six people, not dozens.  The shelter had a new floor, but it was filthy. I didn't think the broom would get it clean enough that I would want to sleep on it. I looked at the food trash people had left behind, the mud, and the fat chipmunks who were clearly waiting for a moment of inattention so they could steal food. The last shelter was too big. This one was too gross. I left, looking for something just right. Less than a mile later I found my home for the night. It's in a little gap, which means it will be somewhat windy. But it has semiflat spots and trees with good branches for hanging a bear  line. The site I eventually settled on is a little higher in the middle than at the ends, so I've padded the head end of the sleeping pad as best I could. I pointed the foot of the sleeping bag into the wind to try to preserve heat around the opening at my head. For dinner I ate my scavenged chicken salad on the adorable little pack of crackers that came with it. I also finished off today's snacks, courtesy of Goddess. Come to think of it, almost nothing that I ate today was food that I purchased. Weird. With the chilling wind, I was in my tent by 5:30. I think it's going to be an early night.