Date: 2014-02-24
From: Standing Indian Campsite

To: Big Spring
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

I woke up to a beautiful sunrise just shy of the Standing Indian Shelter and finally had a full nights rest! Slept great! I was in no rush to get going this morning due to my extra miles I put in yesterday and I was hoping Sunset would catch up. Almost packed and ready to hike I see Jerry hiking on past my site. He has a new trail name...... Honey Buns. It comes from his nightly dinner ritual of 3 honey buns and a shot of Jack. You see, this is why I decided to come up with my own trail name beforehand. They could of easily named him Jack, or JD, but he got labeled Honey Buns. You can try to not have a trail name if you thru-hike, let me know how that goes by the way. Truth is you WILL be given one, and it most likely won't be a flattering name. But Jerry, is taking it like a trooper and sticking with it. Why fight it?It didn't take me all but 5 minutes to catch up to Honey Buns. He is slow and steady and that's just great. It will be the last time I see him for the day or anyone else for that matter. I however just love to hike. It is when I'm the happiest. The one thing about early in the year hiking is the hours of daylight are just limited. You are basically forced to bunker in for at least 12-14 hours in your tent or shelter. That's just a long time. The least favorite part of my day is from getting out of my sleeping bag to the start of the hike. That last about 30-45 minutes depending on how cooperative my frozen tent poles are that day. The best part is the minute I start hiking. Wondering what I will see, and experience that particular day.That said, most of today's hike was relatively simple. Relatively. The hardest climb so far was the half mile torturous stretch to Albert Mountain Fire Tower. (Pic above) The beauty and the moment was short lived cause I just realized that I lost the next 50 miles of my trail guide. I tear out 2 pages at a time and keep them in my pocket for easy access, and it must of fallen out somewhere. It's way easier than dropping the pack down every time you want to look at it. But for those of you that know, the guide book is very useful and most times essential! It was now late in the day, and I had no idea when the next campsite, and more importantly the nearest water source was. I can always just find a makeshift tent site, but no water means no dinner, and I had a Mountain House chicken and rice meal waiting for me. My minor tension was short lived and I found a Blue Blaze about a mile down the hill from the tower. Filled up my 23.7oz Smart Water bottle, which has been holding up remarkably well, and my 64oz Sawyer Squeeze water bladder, and headed on my search for a suitable tent spot. I ended up staying at a former shelter site with signs posted that read "No Camping" SHHHHHHHHHH! Don't tell anyone. Besides I wasn't gonna set up a fire or anything. It was almost dark. Pitch the tent, eat some dinner, and sleep. Couldn't really harm the place.Great weather for the start of the hike so far. Couldn't really ask for any better in the mountains for February.Song of the day. Remind me who I am. -Jason GrayMovie of the day. Rocky IV