Date: 2015-06-14
From: Peters Mountain Shelter

To: Rausch Gap Shelter
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: scattered clouds

1. I did something stupid when I started setting up all of my mail drops months before I left for the trail.Misguidedly thinking, "I don't have to smell bad ALL the time!", I put a fabric softener sheet in every box, folded up and sealed in a ziploc baggie, so that I could slip them into my clothes bag so I could enjoy that fresh, clean clothes scent.I was very dumb in doing this. I later learned that you don't only hang just food from trees to keep it away from bears, you hang everything with a fragrance. Dryer sheets would fall in that category. Hanging my entire clothes bag along with my food AND cook set AND toiletry bag would be outrageous. I wouldn't be able to haul all that weight up a tree. Branches would be broken nightly.(CONFESSION: At this point, I only bother hanging my food. Cookset and toiletry bag live in my pack. It seems like everyone else is on the same page as me, though.)So the dryer sheet thing was a good thought, but didn't work out. Not a big deal, right? I can just toss them in the garbage when I process the box.Only one problem: my trail mix now tastes like laundry.2. I know I have been writing WAY too much lately. But after trying to remember the first weeks of my hike to recount to Chris, I realized how much I have forgotten already. It was scary. So I want to record all the details I can. I hope you appreciate this, future self!3. I was feeling rough around the edges for most of the morning. I was worried about Candace, and worried about mom. And I missed them both. I still miss them both. I am so homesick this week.Can you imagine coming home after living abroad for two years and getting engaged? My poor sister came home to the open arms of dozens of family members, the house where we grew up, old memories and love. And mom and dad hugs. And twin hugs. Then she had to leave again, back to the other side of the world, far from family in time and space. Sorry, Emmy.And my poor mom, got to see her daughter for only a few days, then was left alone again (except for my wonderful pizza fairy, that is). And I left too. "Don't worry! I'll be home in a few weeks!" I told her. But that's small consolation... Candace will still be in Japan, so far away.I LOVE YOU GUYS.4. We leapfrogged with Coco and Magnus a lot this morning, and caught up to the Aussie Legs at one point. They tried to convince us to do a 23.5 mile day to a campsite past the shelter we were planning for. Then they continued on, and we considered it while we took a water break.We reached the side trail to Rausch Gap Shelter before 3:00. The Aussie Legs' goal campsite was 4.7 more miles north. We did what we do ten times a day: took out the guidebook and did math estimation. Chris is supposed to take a weekend off to visit friends in New Jersey. At the rate we hike, will be in the New Jersey range, it will be in the middle of next week. Not the weekend. There is no way we could get there by next weekend, though. So we don't really have to rush. We don't need to rush at all. We can afford to slow down a lot.So we stopped. The shelter is really nice. The campsites past it are gorgeous. I pitched my tent in the grass, spread out my Thermarest in front of it, and lazed about in the wonderful weather, reading my book from Bear Claw. Stopping early is so wonderful. There is so much time for activities! I rinsed my clothes and hung them to dry, read my book, plucked my eyebrows, trimmed my toenails... I WAS SO PRODUCTIVE.Also, the water source is AMAZING. A pipe running into a trough, bursting with cold water. I rinsed off and scrubbed with my Packtowl, then headed to Chris's hammock to recommend he also take advantage of the excellent bathing opportunity.When I arrived, I found him talking to Iceman, who was out for the day and had passed along a bottle of Coke. Chris looked very pleased, swinging in his hammock with his cold beverage. I don't drink soda, so I declined a Coke, though I appreciated the offer. Thanks, Iceman!He asked our trail names, and when I introduced myself, he said, "YOU'RE Red Panda." He also said that he didn't have time to read my entire journal. It is quite lengthy...This was the second time someone on the trail recognized my name from the internet, which makes me wonder just how many people read this. I kind of don't want to know.As I set out to fill up my water bottles, I spotted a turtle nearby. Hooray for friendly wildlife that doesn't want to eat me, and won't spread ticks near me!Captain K was at the shelter, and we commiserated over our homesickness. His wife, who was visiting from Ohio and helping him slackpack, departed today to go back home. Although we miss our loved ones, we know that we can't let the adventure go - especially not since we are past the halfway point! Too soon, it will be over, and we will be back home.I headed back to where Chris and I set up camp and started boiling my pasta and dehydrated veggies (yum!). Just as we were finishing up dinner, thunder started rumbling. The breeze picked up, rustling the leaves in the trees overhead. Chris looked up at me, and I grinned. It has become a decent storm, with thunder AND lightning. I am enjoying it from the inside of my tent.Unfortunately, I have ended up in my tent with my food bag, which means I have just eaten all of the M&Ms I rationed out for myself to eat over the next two days... Oops. I totally deserve that butt fat! Hahaha, the chocolate addiction will never be overcome.I think part of the reason I keep eating is that I am so tired. It's just like a reaction: stop and be tired, eat for energy. I probably need more water and rest as much as protein at this point, especially in the hot weather. This week, it really feels like summer has arrived in full force. I am going to bed early and sleeping late tomorrow (at least I will try to!).I am thankful for Trail Mentor Skywalker Alexa, who suggested that I get a tent with a vestibule. Gertrude and my sneakers are safe from the rain. Hopefully I will stay dry for the rest of the night, too.