Date: 2005-07-22
From: Bryant Ridge Shelter

To: Marble Spring
Miles today: 17.2

Another fabulous day on the trail, despite the killer heat and humidity that pretty much takes the joy out of hiking up hill!I was up early, hoping to be able to make 17 miles instead of only 10, leaving me with 8 miles into town on Saturday instead of 15. I'm REALLY ready for the pleasures of civilization right now - AC in particular.I woke my shelter mates (Jared and Adam) as well, as they were anticipating lunch at a Subway by noon and didn't want to be late.My first five miles were essentially all uphill, over 2,200 foot, and the next five miles included another major climb. That would get me to my first option, Thunder Hill, but if I was up to it, the next 7 miles would get me much closer to town.That was how it worked out, I'm happy to say, but not without a certain cost in terms of struggle and sheer grit. I have to say that the heat and humidity really take their toll on the uphill climbs. The worst of it was a little hill called High Cock Knob, a climb of only about 700 foot. But it came 16 miles into my 17 mile day, in the hottest part of the day, and was one of those awful, almost straight up trails with a treadway consisting of nothing but rocks - loose ones where you are constantly at risk of losing your footing. You just have to keep telling yourself that it can't last forever, that the pain is finite, that there are only 700 feet up and eventually they will all be behind you. And think how glad you'll be tomorrow having gotten them behind you today! It's a lot about mind games out here, and I'm getting reasonably good with that.I am also counting my blessings, mostly just for the luxury of being out here, but my right knee is better than before my 3 week layoff, and my left knee seems to have fully recovered. My feet are still good, with no blisters, my gear is all working well, and I'm averaging over 17 miles a day. If it weren't for the heat and humidity, life on the trail would be perfect!Well, except for the fact that I am basically hiking by myself, and missing the heck out of all my hiker friends. I read the shelter registers religiously, following the comments of March Company and affiliated hikers. Folks like Butterfly Moon, Breakaleg, Hopeful Hiker, Snowman (and sometimes, Icecle and Frost), Bubble Toes, Mouth, and others too numerous to mention. At the rate I'm going, I'll be in Waynesboro in five more days, and will return home on Friday, July 29. Then I'll have to decide if I jump up to New Hampshire, or resume hiking north at the Maryland/Pennslyvania line. With all this heat, it's tempting to head for New England, except that it's also hot there according to weather maps! It will also depend on how Breakaleg is doing. I'd love to be able to hike with her if she's back on the trail by then. At the rate I'm going, we should be at about the same place by the end of July - or close to it. Decisions, decisions, but nothing I need to worry about deciding tonight. It's been a good day, I'm bedded down in my tent, alone again in the woods - but too tired from that last hil to worry about that either. Ga night!Oh, almost forgot. Today's hike is dedicated to my journal and hiker buddy Breakaleg, still going through the challenges I faced in April and May. It's rough, more mentally than physically, sitting around waiting for your body to heal, knowing all your friends are still hiking - getting further ahead every day, and just champing at the bit to get back out there yourself. But she's one tough cookie in both departments, so I have absolute confidence that she will be out here herself hiking north in no time at all. Keep the faith, babe. See ya soon!Stay tuned, Longhaul------------------------------Sent via PocketMailEmail Anywherewww.pocketmail.com