Date: 2005-02-26
To: First day hike of the season!
Miles today: 0.0

16 days until March 14th...As March 14th draws nearer, my excitement level grows exponentially. The last week has been more of the same: spending time with friends, driving back and forth between Portland and Vancouver, and reading while lounging with my cats. I've spent a few evenings watching movies with Ammo (Aunt Mona) and Mason, which has been very enjoyable. The time IS going by, but it should go quicker!Today, Ammo, Mason, and I went hiking at Siouxon Creek Falls near Amboy, Washington. We got somewhat of a late start, so our hike only lasted about 5 miles, but it was a good hike. We saw some great waterfalls and our path took us through a mossy tree lined corridor that mostly paralled Siouxon Creek. We didn't make it to the final falls, due to time constraints, though I'd been there last Easter and saw almost all of the various falls along the creek. I'd previously forded Siouxon Creek to make a loop of the hike and, while a creek ford doesn't sound dangerous, the combination of the current, width, depth, and slick rock creek bottom made it quite frightening. It's actually the only time I've been hiking that I've been afraid for my life. Quite the humbling experience.Tomorrow morning, Ammo, Mason, and I have plans to go hiking on a 2 mile path at Moulson Falls, which is closer to home. Next week, I have tentative plans with friends to go to Ape Cave, an intact, albeit defunct, lava tube near Mt. St. Helens. I haven't been in a couple years and it would be a blast to go again before I leave the Pacific Northwest.Last week, I spent two days in bed because I was very ill, alternating between hot and cold, accompanied by an intense earache and stuffiness. During my "sickness," I had some very strange dreams. In one, I was very afraid of hiking through the snow in Georgia and when I came upon the snow, I wanted to turn back and abort my hike. I find this strange, as I've done snow hiking before and, consciously, I enjoy it. Maybe my dream is an expression of my subconscious apprehension.I've been checking the snow level reports and it appears that the Smokys currently have a zero snow level with a fairly warm forecase for the next 30 days. Other than the standard daily weather pages offered by Yahoo and Google, I haven't been able to find a snow report page for Amicalola Falls State Park or Dahlonega, GA. I did receive some good advice via my guestbook for the beginning of my hike. Particularly that I should hold onto my cold weather gear until I finish the Smokys, as the weather can change very quickly.Meanwhile, the journal entries of a NOBO AT thru-hiker who began on January 2nd indicated that he didn't run into any snow and that it was a good year for early hikers. Lucky, lucky hiker! I wish I would have started earlier, though I suppose my March 14th start date will be perfectly fine. There are many hikers beginning around the same time and, after conversing with them through e-mail, I look forward to meeting them.At this point in time, I feel very well and strong enough to hike, as evidenced by my hike today. I'm thankful that I became ill a few weeks before I left, rather than immediately before my start date. My subconscious apprehension isn't going to stand in my way.I suppose that I should go through my gear and pack up to make sure that everything will fit - I anticipate having extra room in my pack. I still want to trade in my 6 pound backpack for a lighter pack. I've got plenty of time, but I'm waiting for the dividend sale at REI.