Date: 2018-10-15
From: Zealand Falls Hut

To: Rt 302 
Miles today: 7.7
Weather: light rain

There were only 10 guests at the Hut last night. Four Canadian couples on holiday, a section hiker, and myself. We all sat at the same table for our family style breakfast. All meals at the Huts are served family style. The Canadian group was loads of fun! We laughed a lot last night and even more this morning.  I lost cell service yesterday and have not been able to finalize my extraction plans with Papa Big Swig. Today is my extraction day. He knows where to pick me up, just not when. Praying I get service on the trail.  The weather was perfect this morning. Around 30 degrees and no wind. From the moment I stepped out to hike I could hear the falls rushing beside me. LOVELY!! I cannot believe the amazing change in terrain. I had a real trail, and I was hiking on a ridge! I can still picture coming to an area where all the leaves around me were golden. It reminded me of the days when Mountain Laurel made me feel like someone turned on the lights. It was beautiful and rejuvenating.  I came to a very rocky area that was exposed on the side of a mountain. That area gifted me the most beautiful view of the day! By now the sun was shining so brightly. I was warm, and in awe of all this splendor. This IS God¢s country... dad was right.  There was a short rocky area I had to pick my way through before I found myself back on a good path. A young French couple coming towards me stopped to talk. They were stuck without fire last night. Their waterproof matches did not work. I¢ve never tried waterproof matches, and I probably won¢t ever now. I gave them my extra lighter. It had been a gift from Big Kahuna.  By mid-morning it turned into a beautiful hiking day in every way. I took a minute to take off my outer layer(rain gear). I hiked on a couple more hours like that. It was great!  Around noon I was coming close to a shelter where I had planned to stop for a snack. It was too far off trail for my liking, so I pulled up a nice boulder and took a seat. It felt good to drop pack and rest a while. One eaten Cliff Bar later I was on my way again. This terrain was so nice that I could hike at my old pace of 2-2.5 miles an hour. It felt so good! I just breathed in deeply and smiled as I hiked over the carpeted trail. Sometimes vibrant red leaves, and sometimes gold leaves. Once in a while a mixture of red and gold. I wish I could find a word to describe the smell of fall leaves. I love it so much. With about 2 miles to go it began to mist. I knew this was coming as we get a weather report every morning at the Huts. I dropped pack and put my rain gear back on. It really didn¢t deter me any. I just enjoyed my hike in the rain. Before I knew it, my time in the Whites was over...sooo bittersweet. Yes the climbs were hard. At times treacherous. But the reward is immeasurable. I took lots of pictures, but they aren¢t a complete product of being there. So many times I sat thousands of feet high amongst the vastness and realized how small I am, how grand the planet is, and that God truly IS. I am so blessed. So fortunate, and so grateful. I wish a picture could bring out those feelings for everyone, but it does not. I reached my pick-up location very early compared to the hiking times I¢ve previously been able to do in the Whites. No cell service still. I contemplated pitching my tent to get out of the rain, but decided I didn¢t want to pack up a went tent. I took out my sit-upon and waited. It was 12:48pm. As the rain continued to fall so did the temperature. By 1:30pm I began to shiver. I pulled out my emergency blanket and put it to use. A day hiker happened along. His car was parked there. I asked if he would text Papa Big Swig for me when he got cell service. He said he would, and he did. It¢s a good thing because Papa Big Swig had estimated my arrival around 5pm. That estimate would usually be true in the Whites, but not today. He was there to get me by 2:30pm with all new dry clothing and a towel. I¢m a lucky gal!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018) Where¢s your faith?