Date: 2013-01-13
To: Lessons Learned Alone at Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

Ok, my last entry was from last night. I wanted to check out several things...   First, I wanted to kind of time my chores when I arrive in camp in the evening and then on my way out of camp in the morning. I'm used to backpacking with others so last night was the first time I was completely alone at a shelter. No help with water filtration, firewood gathering, scouting out for a good tent space, or food bag hanging. I'm pretty proud of the outcome.    I had a short hike since I didn't get started until almost 2 PM. Should have never went out Friday night....bad bad decision and it caused me to have this very late start. Ughhhhh.... Oh well, we live and learn. Anyway, I got to the trailhead and headed about 2200 feet up to little Laurel shelter. 4.9 miles in an hour and 50 minutes. I was huffing and puffing like I said. I'm definitely not in good trail shape like I was before. Lots of work to do in these 13 remaining weeks.    I was happy to see that Addie Mae and I were alone when we arrived. I planted myself on the picnic table at 3:50 PM and read the journal entries. I was pleased to see an entry from "sleepwalker"...My friend Sharon and I met him as we started our trek through the Shenondoah National Park a couple of months back. He was a southbounder and was travelling fast. He was nice enough to take our picture before we set out on our way. Very nice guy...!I also saw an entry by "peanut" who was hiking with "lumberjack" just north of Calf mountain in SNP when we met them. She had a ponytail on the top of her head and he had a full beard and the kindest eyes I have ever seen. Very sweet couple. I'm so happy they made it to little Laurel shelter and it looked like they are on schedule to reach Springer in short order.   So, after reading the journal, getting the lay of the land (locating the privy, the bear cables, and the tent site just south of the shelter) I was ready to set up camp. I must say that I was really surprised to be alone up there. It was an amazingly beautiful day!!! 70+ degrees and mostly sunny! Banner day for sure for this time of the year!!!! However, I only ran into two four people on my way up.    I ran into a young couple who had parked by log cabin road and walked a short distance for fun. Then I ran into a man who used to date the woman who runs Standing Bear Hostel... he was just hiking down from the fire tower...his weekend hill workout~ Allen gap to fire tower and back. Then I ran into another hiker who had the owners of Hemlock Hollow drop him off at Devils fork gap after leaving his car at Allen gap. He was almost done with his 20 mile day and told me about the wild wind and crazy technical climbing just past the firetower heading north. I'm glad Addie and I chose to make it a short day.... I would have been concerned for her safety!!!!         I set up camp, got water, gathered wood for the fire and was relaxing and eating by 5:00. Now, I'm sure I won't be having a fire every night out on the trail. As a matter of fact, Sharon and I never had a fire the 6 days we hiked the AT in SNP. I just felt more comfortable having one last night...AND....I had a lot to think about. Lot's of change and the trail is just around the corner!   So, I sat by the fire after dinner and watched the sun disapear throught the trees. It was so quiet except for the wind, an owl hooting and the crackling of the fire. Sooooo peaceful!!!!   I sat by the fire reading "A Long Walk" by Hap Vectorline the Kindle app that I have on my phone. It's about his PCT trek. Then I had little Addie follow me down to hang my food bag and her backpack (with her food) up on the bear cables. The wind had picked up, it was getting chilly and we were ready to head to the tent.   We snuggled in and I read til about 10 PM. I got a very good nights sleep and had great thoughts and dreams about all of the adventures ahead. The wind was strong throughout the night, but Addie just layed close to me and we were very warm and content! Ok...journaling on the IPhone Sucks!!!!!!! To put it mildly! I will have bilateral thumb tendonitis in no time if I go that route. I spoke with David "AWOL" Miller via Facebook and he is suggesting Dragon...I will have to look into it!!!!   I woke up late...8:00!!!!! Lord, I guess I needed the sleep. I had a litte hot spot from my new shoes so I dressed it, got dressed myself, broke down camp, got our food bags down, fed Addie, made coffee and ate a bar and we were off by 9:07. I thought that was pretty good time, especially because we werent rushing. I brought my french press for my jetboil and made coffee....I love it but won't be bringing on the trail. It's too messy and the coffee I will have to bring will be too heavy. I will stick with the starbucks via's....they are much less trouble. I also will be shedding the stuff sacks for my reactor sleeping bag liner and my pillow....They can go directly in my clothes compression bag. That will save room and weight.    I brought the 'charmin' backpacker TP that you get from REI.....there is NO WAY in hell that I will be able to make that last for more than two days!!!!!!! Any ideas out there for a tp roll that will last 3-4 days????? It would be very very very very bad to run out of tp out there!!! ;0)   Anyway, we had a fast, quiet hike down. We didn't see a soul and Addie was so good just hanging close to me. She had a job to do...to protect me...and she did her job very well!!!! ;0)   I even thought for a moment that I should maybe bring her on the trail...but no, that is definitely not a good idea! We made it down to the car in an hour and a half.    It was a fabulous night out in the woods and I learned a few things to help me with my upcoming trip. With the warmth that we are having, I'm wondering if I will NEED a 15 degree bag or if I should go with a 20-25 degree with my Reactor liner????????   Hmmmmmmmm..... Still so much planning to do...But now I'm headed east after clearing my mind in the woods....I'm ready to go and ready to do the work necessary to get myself in the shape I will need to be in when I step on Springer Mountain 13 weeks from today!!!!!!!! :0)