Date: 2006-06-07
From: Gren Anderson Shelter

To: High Point Shelter
Miles today: 13.0
Weather: moderate rain

High Point ShelterA very mixed day. Where to begin? How about at the beginning?Woke up at a quarter to five. The intestinal track finally decided to give up the poop. Strolled to the privy, a real throne. A toilet seat behind some lattice fencing. A pleasant way to start the morning, listening to the birds as I get things moving. Then breakfast of muesli and instant coffee. As I sit and enjoy, a deer comes to about five feet away from where I sit. I had the camera, so I took a picture. As I broke down camp, it started to sprinkle. It was warm so I set out, sneaking by the sleeping tenters. Staring this early, I figure I'll be at tonight's destination way too early. So I decided to stop at Mashipacong Shelter for second breakfast of trail mix. It's now really sprinkling hard. I put on the pack cover. There are some pretty yellow flowers on the trail. They resemble what in my stick of the woods are called Baby Blues. Iris family. I stoop to get a better look and these fellows have iris leaves. Must be related. More flowers I don't know. White ones. I hope the hostel in Vernon has a flower book on the shelf. The rain is starting to be chilly. Since I started so early and the plan is for only thirteen miles, I detour to Rutherford. Scary. Down the hill in the rain. I sit and have lunch and decide I really need to put on the rain jacket. Up the 0.4 miles up the hill and another 4.3 to High Point. As I walk along in the now pouring rain, I see what at first were three dogs, running toward me. Suddenly I realize they are fawns. The lead one stopped so quickly, his back end almost went over his head. They all turn and head down the hill. A few seconds later, I run into three guys coming up the hill. I ask if they saw the fawns. Nope. Apparently, the fawns were running away from the guys and ran into me. They must have high tailed down the hill between us. It was a cute moment for me. The last mile is grueling. The rain is really coming down. The road crossing is a river. It's really cold now. But I know in half an hour I should be at the shelter. And finally after a realization of how grateful I am that it never rained on me in Pennsylvania, the turn off for the shelter. As expected, no one there. It's interesting that the last four miles reminded me of PA. Rocks and rocks. I took a fall on some slippery rocks. I hit my elbow. Ouch! I 'm glad my town clothes are long pants. I put them on. There is a tin roof here. Instead of filtering water from the spring, I put my canteen under one of the drips. The roof is clean after all this rain, I figure. Then came Nathan, Mel and Laura. Three music majors from a near by college out for a few days. But they are thinking it's not such a good idea any more. They come and share their hot cocoa and chat with me for an hour before heading back to their cars. Funny kids. But a pleasant enough experience. They brought news that it¢s supposed to rain all day tomorrow.After they leave, I put my bed out. For extra warmth, I will wrap under the tarp. Boy, it that a great idea of what? I'll sleep with the log pants on and hope the skirt will dry out enough to hike in tomorrow. I'm glad I have extra fuel. Hot Kool-Aid is a tad better then plain hot water.   I think I'll sleep good tonight. Tired and chilled. Looking forward to cover under the tarp, hopefully toasty warm. After hot Kool-Aid.Namaste'