Date: 2022-04-27
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: scattered clouds

It¢s been a good day. It started really cold due to the humidity that the rain had left but it warmed up throughout the day. There was some big climbs today and it was tough to get up some of them. It helped that I spent some good time hiking with others who helped the time go by.The first mountain I summited was Big Butt Mountain. Named for a massive rock on it that has a crack all the way down the middle of it. I have a picture of it. Other parts of the trail was a lot of scrambling over big rocks. I came to one that I didn¢t think I would fit through the space between the rocks. So I took my pack off and passed it through ahead of me and then put it back on. From the top of the mountain there was some good views of the surrounding area. Looking west the ground just fell off to flat land stretching into the distance. It was so strange to look out and not see more mountains. Coming down from this mountain the trail was just so smooth. There were few rocks and roots. It was an easy decline for miles. The trail was winding down the side of the mountain. Trees were spread out and large so I could see a good distance. I came to a gap that the trail passed near to but didn¢t cross into. I was looking at what a cool campsite it would be when I saw a buck standing in it eating grass. So I stopped in my tracks and watched him. I then slowly took steps toward him. He watched me but seemed unbothered that I was there. Cracker came up behind me a few minutes later. Just moving along in his own thoughts so I signaled him to look and then he stopped. We stood there for a few minutes and then a doe came from off to one side and joined him. We watched them just graze for a while before we quietly moved passed them. It was really cool to encounter and watch them in their natural habitats. I¢m sure they must see people all the time for them to be so calm around us.I rolled into camp with no water left only to learn that water was 0.22 downs side trail. So I took my gallon water bag and filter. I filled my bottom down there and then carried my water bag back up full. I knew others would be coming who needed it. I was right and they thanked me. It wasn¢t enough for everyone but it was enough to give them the immediate relief they needed. A couple of people took my bag at different times to fill it for the group over the evening. My bag full of water fell at one point when I was getting water from it and it burst. It was right at the top by the fill spout. So I think I can tape it up and it be fine. I¢m not worried about it. Everyone on the trail talks about how there original Sawyer bags got a hole or ripped so I have been expecting it to happen. The price you pay for something being light, thin, plastic.I¢m sleeping in the shelter for the first time with this group so we will see who snores. Tomorrow we are pushing for 20 miles and others are talking about pushing the 26 miles into Erwin. I don¢t think I¢ll be doing that.I found some signal to get a text that Emily went into labor, there were complications with the umbilical cord and they were headed to the hospital for a c-section. Later I got a text saying the baby boy was born and was in the NICU with low blood sugar. So I¢m praying for them.