Date: 2014-04-23
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Tray Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 8.1
Weather: clear sky

   I didn't sleep too well since we crammed 8 people and a 100lb dog in a 7-person shelter. I woke up for sunrise at 630 again and again it was beautiful. There was a nice ribbon of deep red along the horizon and it faded up from orange to yellow. Ben left shortly after sunrise to hike on his own for the day. I knew he wanted to go further than I had planned and I think he just needed to be on his own.    I hiked with Paul for a little bit in the morning. He and Jim were just going two miles to get to the road crossing to get picked up for a visit to town. I [barely] saw a four foot long black snake on the trail around there and just waited and let him cross the path. Close call. I walked up to the visitor info sign at the parking lot of the road crossing and there were two boxes of trail magic! I went through them and pretty much took everything that was vegan - 3 Nature Valley bars, 2 small packs of peanuts, and 2 packs of chocolate peanut butter sandwich crackers. I sat there and ate one of each. Ivonne told me that when she passed by in the morning, they had oranges and bananas! That would've been so good but I was happy with my haul. Dan showed up after a bit and grabbed stuff too. I said my goodbyes to Paul and Jim in case we don't see each other again but I hope we do! The rest of the trail was a big climb, then a downhill, then a big climb again. The second climb was so lush and green and not nearly as rocky as the first climb. There were water jugs before the second climb but they were empty already. I didn't mind since I filled up at a stream (a really quaint, beautiful one) on the first uphill. I paced myself behind Ivonne in the last climb for a bit but my shoulders started hurting. My load-lifter straps loosen apparently, I guess from gravity on the uphill, so I think that did it. I stopped for lunch near two guys and a little boy and they offered me Oreos! They were actually the Back to Nature brand which I never had and even though they're healthier, they don't taste as good. But I was happy to be offered them! Lots of magic today that I enjoyed.    When I got to the shelter, I checked the log book and saw that Ben wrote in there and that he wanted me, Paul, and Dan to come to the next shelter where he was. I was content with my 8 mile day and didn't want to push further. Plus there were butterflies all over the shelter area and the tent sites are really pretty. I picked one with an amazing view nearby. So he has to wait and hope we run into each other again.    Ivonne and Tony are staying in the shelter, and Dan and Sarah (21, geology student that took a semester off) are tenting. We all hung out and chatted for awhile before and during dinner. Small crowds are nice because everyone can easily talk to everyone. Sarah is nice. She was at the shelter last night too but we didn't get to talk too much.    Still not sure what my plan is for getting into town to get food. You can stay somewhere and they usually have shuttles, but then you're paying to stay somewhere. One hostel is donation based so I'll probably do that but I don't know if they come pick you up at anytime or do it at certain times and I don't have enough service to call now. Hopefully I will at some point tomorrow. I could definitely do laundry and shower too so it may be a good idea to stay somewhere. I also would like to talk to family and friends. It's been awhile since I've been able to have a long conversation with anyone back home. Or that I wasn't too busy to do so. I'll get an early start tomorrow and hopefully be able to get a ride to the hostel! If not, I'll have to stay at a shelter and wait until the next morning to head out. I'm sure something will work out. 840 - getting too dark to write - time for bed!