Date: 2019-05-10
From: Stealth Site mile 290.3

To: Stealth site mile 312
Miles today: 21.7

So stealth camping was a success.  Imagine walking out into the woods a mile or two by yourself, not really knowing where you are and setting up camp. Again, you don¢t really know where you are and no one, that cares about you, knows where you are. I was alone last night. The last person I have seen was 4 miles back at the last shelter at 5 pm. I could not have done this until this trip. I tried 3 years ago, and I couldn¢t do it. I got to start the day with a 6 mile uphill!! 2400 feet over 6 miles. The views were great today.  I climbed over two or three mountains and I got to walk two exposed ridge lines.  There was a fire tower but it was closed to the public.  There were also several meadows I walked through some at elevation and some in the gaps, it is a nice change of scenery. At the first shelter I stopped at some hikers were just leaving, it was about 9:30.  I thought it was kind of a late start but they were headed out.  There was another couple there taking a break. So, there was one guy and one girl left in the shelter.  So this is where the Cop comes in.  The guy was young, early 20s. He was talking a mile a minute, unsolicited. He was telling us about his guitar and why he carries it, he was telling us about some guy that stole 143 dollars from him, he was telling us that the guy was homeless.  He was not homeless, he was currently ¢without a permanent home.¢ The girl, did not look like she belonged on the trail, I¢ll leave it at that.  She added that she was up at 6:30 and was going to start hiking. It¢s 930!!! and she was still laying in bed.   So, my point is there are alot of people out here for different reasons, I¢m not saying these two, especially the guy were up to no good but my instincts told me so.  I was afraid to leave my pack for a few minutes to get water.  I looked at the exact positioning of my pack, waited until the guy from the couple came back from getting water, and I ran to the water source and back, all was good.  I checked my pack a half mile up the trail and my money and wallet were still there.  It was a beautiful day, with forecast of rain for the next two, through hikers want to move when weather is good. The next shelter had a group of younger kids, early 20s that looked like they hiked in to have a good time. I decided to hike on to a hostel that had pizza and beer. There were some warnings on Guthooks about the place but I decided to give it a try.  It was a little creepy. I walked up and there was no one around. There was a sign that said, if no one is here we¢ll be back soon. It was like a garage with a pavilion off the front. I looked inside and there wad nobody.  I sat in one of the chairs and two guys walked down from some campers/trailers. The one guy said, hey.  I asked if he was the owner and if he had beer and food? he said yes and directed me to the beer fridge while he start a pizza for me.  Beer selection: PBR, Natural, Busch and Budweiser. As I¢m drinking my beer I noticed he¢s messing with the gas grill.  The two were pleasant enough.  Did I mention they had four or five signs around about the 2nd amendment and if the first shot doesn¢t kill you the second one will?  I realized he was cooking my pizza on the grill, mind you this is NO DiGiorno.  I got a second beer and he served my 3/4 cooked pizza on the box. I asked how many people are staying the night? he said if I stayed it would be just me!!!  I was telling them about my wife and how were doing apart, making stuff up getting them laughing, talking about crime in Chicago.  Then I was like, OK guys I¢ve got to press on, I paid my bill and high tailed it out of there.  I found a nice stealth spot a mile up trail. I built a fire and had a hiker meal.  I hit the 300 mile mark today!!!!