Date: 2010-07-30
From: Bennington, Vermont

To: Hell Hollow Brook
Miles today: 3.2

July 30, 2010 - Day 117 - FridayThis morning was the start of Day One of the Mala Magic. The plan for today was to hike 14 miles to the shelter then do 8 miles the following day to meet Mala at the trailhead on Kelley Stand Road.I woke up for an early breakfast with Mala before going to the trailhead outside of the town of Bennington. It was so good to be following white blazes again. The yellow blazing thing was ok, but I felt guilty leaving the white blaze. I did find a purpose in my adventure of yellow blazing, the decision for the next book, but I think I will stick with the white blaze.I haven't talked much about Murphy's Law creating non-negotiating decisions for me, but it happens every day. This is one of the perks of living in the wild learning to adapt, overcome and improvise. Let me give you an example of Murphy's Law affecting my day.I am finally back in the woods chasing the white blazes north. The weather was perfect for hiking, low humidity and temps expected to be no higher than mid 70's. I am crossing the bridge over Hell Hollow Brook 1 1/2 miles from the trailhead. A hiker catches my attention because of the erratic way they were coming down the mountain towards me. Watching a pinball bouncing off the machine¢s bumpers is the best way to describe how this hiker's behavior looked. I was still standing on the bridge as the hiker stumbled towards me with her head down. I did not recognize the hiker until I saw her sad ashen white face in tears. I was shocked. It was Ace, a young lady I have been hiking with off and on. "Why are you going south?" I asked. Ace mumbled something inaudible. I realized that something was possibly medically wrong and asked if she was ok. She shook her head, no.I quickly jumped down from the bridge and told her to take her pack off and sit down. Ace started talking more clearly and told me she was trying to get back to the trailhead because she kept getting dizzy and wanted to pass out. I went into my medical training mode and began my assessment. Her skin color was still very pale, heart rate low and her breathing shallow. Ace complained of her tongue not feeling right. I knew she was on antibiotics for a recent bout with Lymes Disease. Ace also told me of further treatment for cellulitis, a bad form of skin bacteria on her arm where the rash from the Lymes Disease was located. A doctor gave her a more powerful antibiotic. I told her that is exactly what I had on my hike in Scotland by a nasty wee beastie (Scottish lingo), a tick. I asked Ace if she was taking any other meds and she told me yes and what it was. After my assessment, I felt that Ace was having an allergic reaction to the medications and was possibly going into anaphylactic shock.I was concerned. I gave her options of what to do; the best option was continuing to the trail head. Phone service did not exist in our present location. I told her I would stay with her no matter what, that she would not be alone. We sat for three hours as Ace slowly gained her energy back at the brook. It took us another 3 hours to walk the 1-1/2 miles back to the trail head. We hitched back into town. I called Mala and hoped he hadn't left the mystery hostel. Mala answered the phone and I told him I was coming back to town and to the hostel. Ace immediately lay down and fell asleep when we arrived. I kept watch to make sure she was okay until she woke up and was looking better. Ace called her boyfriend who lives 3 hours away and was coming to pick her up in the morning. By now it is early evening and too late for me to go back to the trail.I had a schedule to get to Killington but Murphy's Law involving Ace kicked in. The 22 miles are going to be skipped and I don¢t think I will be back to makeup those miles. Because it is my hike I feel fine with that decision. I would gladly trade, at anytime, miles for the safety and mental well being of a hiker in need.And so my adventure continues in unexpected ways thanks to Murphy.if not now then when? KrispyKritter 2010 GaMe