Date: 2003-05-20
From: Brown Mountain Creek Shelter

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I guess it wasn't a good idea to try to dry out my tent by using it... next to a stream. It was just as wet as when I set it up last night, if not wetter. Oh well, pack it up and go anyway. It's been wet since Sunday, what's another day?From the start of the day, it was uphill, for over 4 miles. I felt pretty good though, even after the long miles yesterday. On long uphills, if I get into a rhythm, I just plug along. Of course, I was sweating like a pig, even though there was a nice breeze.At the top of Bald Knob, there was a southbound section-hiker sitting on a large rock in the sun. He was quite friendly, and I stood there chatting with him for a few minutes. Then I thought "Why don't I take my pack off and sit down for a while?" Duh. I ended up sitting there for almost an hour talking to him, and then Hotdog when he arrived. In that time, I also took off my shoes and socks to try to dry them out a bit. It worked a little bit. Anything is better than what they were.There were some beautiful meadows along the ridges today, and we stopped for lunch on a huge rock near one. The sun was out, so I took out my tent and dried it out. I also took off my shoes and socks to dry them, and my feet.There were some ups and downs throughout the day, nothing too major... if I'd planned my water stops better. I had one liter of water to last me 11 miles, including 2500' of climb. Not a good thing. It wasn't hot, but it wasn't cold either. I rationed my last 1/3 liter over 4 miles to where I THOUGHT a spring would be. About 0.6 before where the spring should've been, I passed the 800 mile mark, and celebrated by polishing off my water. Yippeee! I headed out, hoping the information about the spring was accurate. Before long, I heard a beautiful sound: water! I didn't know it if was the spring or not, but it was water, and if there wasn't a trail leading to it, I'd bushwack. I dropped my pack, grabbed my water bottles and headed for the water. While my Aqua Mira was getting ready, I drank a little bit of untreated water straight from the spring. Aaahhh.. refreshment!Waiting for Hotdog, I ate a bunch of snacks, and drank more water. It was less than 4 miles to Seeley-Woodworth Shelter, and it was only 3:30pm. With plenty of water, and plenty of time, I was feeling better. Thruhiker Yogi, Hotdog and I arrived at the shelter around the same time, and were surprised no one was here. I haven't been first to a shelter in a long time, surely not the last two nights! After a while, thruhiker Greg came along too. We cooked dinner, waved bugs away, got our sleeping areas arranged, waved bugs away, and sat around chatting while waving bugs away.While I was journaling, two more hikers showed up. It was Fly and Smoothie! They were behind us today! Reunited! They said Lite Shoe should be along tonight as well, and a bit later, she was. PACK 31 is alive and well. Now we're all lollygaggers together! It'll be a race to get out of the shelter first, to avoid the lollygagger status.I've had a sore throat the last 2 mornings, and am a little stuffy tonight. I hope it doesn't turn into anything worse. I had a hard time keeping my heel protected from the rubbing. Duct tape wouldn't stay on for long. I'm hoping that heals up too. It's probably from the new shoes, and hopefully will stop soon. Today I was a little bit spent physically, but more than that, I'm sleepy-tired. I didn't sleep well at Trail Days, and have had some long days hiking since then. Getting to the shelter early tonight should help me out. Unless us PACK31 lollygaggers chit-chat for a while.Yogi isn't feeling good, and is considering trying to get to a town tonight. I think he should just stay here and try to sleep, then we can assist him tomorrow morning. He knows himself better than we know him, and if something needs to be done, I'll help out where I can. I hope he'll be okay tonight.