Date: 2013-04-25
From: Devil's Fork Gap

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 12.1

Oh the places you'll go, today is your day.....you're off to great places, you're off and away.Dr. Seuss      I am so glad be hiking again. I really am ready to put some miles in and hike my own hike. The first 300 miles have been a training ground for everything that will follow.      I've learned a lot about myself. My legs and body are much stronger now. I'm a good climber, especially in the morning. I prefer to wake early and start hiking right away. I don't Iike being a tent slug unless the weather is a factor. Above all, I avoid being cold as I really dislike that.       I like to press on while hiking, especially if I'm tackling a hill. The guys can sit and rest more easily, but I get cold and am forced to dig out more clothes to be comfortable. I'm not carrying the extra weight that many of them are and, of course, have a completely different musculature, so it's best for me to keep moving to be warm. I am also constantly aware of the possibility of hypothermia due to my physique.       I've learned that I'm highly motivated by any opportunity to get cleaner. Food is a distant second next to the idea of a shower. I'm still forcing myself to eat, and know that I need to watch the protein intake to prevent losing muscle mass.    It's hard for me to reconcile my trail diet with what I know to be healthiest for me after surviving cancer. But, I know what I need to fuel me every day, especially when I'm doing lots of hills or longer miles. Most of the stuff I eat is burned up right away. I figure my calorie burn per hour right now is between 600-700, and I'm hiking 6 to 8 hours daily. Basically I can eat whatever I want and will still lose weight over time. I try to make healthy choices in town, but getting the calories often wins out.       I'm happy with my gear and use everything that is in my pack. I've sent home anything extraneous and have the simple basics to provide for all my needs. It's very freeing to know that I can stop anywhere and be completely self sufficient.       The forest was all shades of green today. Ferns, mosses, all types of small ground covers and plants are everywhere. Trilliums are blooming, both white and crimson. Small yellow wildflowers, white cascading ones, purple violets and miniature iris are everywhere. It's just gorgeous and I love walking alone, seeing and thinking.    This hike is allowing me so much time to think, observe and just be. I can feel the layers of the last couple decades of my life begin to loosen up and I'm curious to see what's underneath. Definitely a happy person. I smile all day.       It's gonna be cold tonight. I'm in my tent at Low Gap, elevation 4300 feet. Will use all my layers. There are lots of others here tonight. I was third to arrive and found a relatively flat spot on what is otherwise a sloping hillside. The spring had a pipe, so water is good. I'm sleeping with my water filter tonight in case it would be cold enough to freeze and ruin it.       I didn't tape anything today, for the first time. I checked my big toe at lunchtime as I could feel it, but the skin is just toughening up. I don't have any lasting pain anywhere and I'm thankful for that. I'm using so little ibuprofen that I'm giving it freely to anyone in need.    Jolly posted about a visit to his podiatrist today. He is not going to be doing any hiking for a couple months and has his left foot/ankle in a soft cast. I hope he will come hike with us when we reach NY.It's all good, back on the AT.Tie Dye.