Date: 2014-04-21
From: Low Gap Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

   I did end up sleeping better and went to bed I think around 830. Only woke up a couple times early in the morning. At night, Ben and I planned to get up early to hike to the shelter and secure our spots. He got up first and woke me up around 630. We were on the trail at 730! I skipped out on brushing my teeth (until later) and making breakfast and just grabbed a ProBar instead. We were the first ones on the trail because Ben was walking through spider webs. Watching the sun come up over the trees was really pretty to see, especially by our campsite. I liked watching our shadows following along the trail too. The hike was fairly easy except for a few quick up hills. Some parts were pretty rocky. The rest of the time we talked about past relationships and family and just trying to be positive and aware. We flew along the trail at parts and only took three breaks I think. We made it to the shelter in just over 3 hours, at 1045! After a couple hours though, it felt like we hadn't hiked at all today! We did a lot of stretching when we got in and I made my oatmeal breakfast for lunch. Some other people stopped in to snack or eat lunch but most actually headed out to hike another six miles to a tent site. Not for me yet.    It was so nice and sunny that I took my pad out and laid in the sun like a cat. There was an occasional cool breeze but the sun was comfortably warming. I really enjoyed that. Ben came to lay for a little too and listened to music. After a couple hours of laying out, I got up and started typing up some journal entries on my phone. There were a lot of bugs flying around me so I was swatting but one seemed really big and I noticed a shadow out of the corner of my eye. Ben and a girl said it was a butterfly that landed on my bandana! I tried to turn my camera on quickly but I think I spooked him since I was swatting at him unknowingly. He flew away but it was another huge yellow monarch. The crazy thing was that it happened exactly as I was starting to type about the first butterfly I saw on the trail. Maybe it's my spirit animal.    Soon, more people came in - Dan, Bill(?), Ivonne, and Tony. They're all staying here too. And an older guy. Only Ivonne and Tony are actually sleeping in the shelter with me and Ben. I guess we didn't have to rush. Ben gathered some branches for a small fire so we're planning that once it gets dark out. Dan got word that there's a 60% chance of rain starting at 11AM so that makes me feel better about staying. I'm sure the day off will be beneficial and enjoyable, but I got a little stuck in my head with just wanting to continue hiking! But the view from the shelter is really nice and someone wrote in the F.A.T. (Facebook of the AT) that sunrise is beautiful here so I really can't wait for that. And it would actually be cool to watch a thunderstorm if that does happen. Luckily this shelter has a large overhang with the table under it too, so less chance of getting wet. I think we lucked out. Hopefully no mice will run over me or gnaw through my stuff or wake me up. I'm getting all the different sleeping experiences in such a short time. We'll see what I like best.