Date: 2009-02-24
From: Forest Service Road crossing

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: clear sky

Day 10 Boots on the groundN35 7.178W83 32.878Question for Saco School 6th Grade > Why does Mt Laurel live at the tops of all the mountains but Azalea doesn't go much above 3500 feet?I had to get to town to call Patty so I was on a mission today ...I was up at 6:00 and made some hot chocolate in the tent vestibule..dressed, packed and was ready to go by 7 when the sun was just coming up. The sunrise was beautiful over the mountains but the best was still to come. I had to start out by going over Mount Albert. It is 5200 feet high and has a tower at th etop so I could see the goal. Ice was dripping down the sides of the rocks and long iceicles were on a lot of the rocks. It was a steep climb up over some rocks but I have the most energy in the morning so it was OK. It took about an hour to do that 1.2 miles to the top but what a view. I could see mountains for 2-300 miles. Row after row of mountains with the valleys in between. The most spectacular view so far.It was downhill for most of the rest of the way. I had 11.6 miles to go to get to the road to town. Long sections across the ridgelines and long drops down and then back up. Every mountain top is covered bu Mountain Laurel a relative to the Rhododendrom so I always know when I am almost to the top. It gets green and turns into a tunnel through the Laurel. The Laurel also is predominant at the bottoms where the rivers are. They aren't on the sides of the mountains except where there is a river.Saw some great waterfalls and ice sculptures made from the running water today. As I cam down the mountain it would be dry and clear on one side of the mountain and then I would turn the corner and hit the other side where the sun didn't shine much and everything was still covered with snow. It was like entering a refrigerator and walking through a cold spot. Sunshine, oh yes Today was the first time I actually felt a warm tinge from the Sun... only for a moment but it was nice. When I crossed the road going to town there was a dead bobcat on the side of the road. I think someon hit it. I had seen tracks in the snow of several animals and the largest ones looked like Bobcat tracks to me. I wish I knew more about waht tracks were what. I knoe rabbit tracks, and I surmised one set to be a racoon but others I can't explain.When I arrived at hwy 64 I pulled out the handkerchief I bought that says "HIKER TO TOWN" on one side and "HIKER TO TRAIL" on the other. It worked great and I was picked up by the second car. The driver, a man in his late 30's was coming from the hills where he went to dig up wild onions (I forget what he called them, he said they were very strong) but because of the snow he will have to wait another week or so to find them.When I got to the hotel SHERPA was checking in right in front of me. Also at the hotel was NOMAD (originally Rockwood) who had left me a message at the first shelter. I was thrilled to have caught up with him just to say hello. He is turning 50 this year and lives in up state NY. I went to dinner tonight with a fatrher and son who hiked the trail in 1999 and was doing it again this year.They are from New Hampshire and the fsther was telling me how his wife is complaining about being home alone and having to shovel snow etc up there in New Hampshire. Women just don't understand the allure.At the Havens Budget Hotel, which caters to hikers, I received my first resupply box that I had mailed before I left Texa,. It had 5 days of food and the next map I need for the trip. I have enough food for about 7 days now as you just can't eat as much as you think. It is too cold to stop and cook anything at lunch so snacks are about it. I am making a point of stopping and hydrating every hour or so and snacking every two hours to keep from gettingout of energy."If your urine is too yellow and your legs not so greatto make your hike nice and mellowremember hourly to hydrate "O.M.RiverI finally made my cell phone call to Patty and all is well.I have 2 blisters on one foot so I am taking another zero day here to recoup.Total mileage in 10 days is 107 miles. One state down.O.M. River