Date: 2018-05-08
From: Pounding Mill Trailhead

To: Devils Fork Gap
Miles today: 13.6
Weather: broken clouds

Last night I slept well, but some time in the night a bird of some sort decided to hang out by my tent. I know it was a big bird because I could hear the wings flapping. Loudly! At first I thought it had to be a turkey, but I don¢t think turkeys are nocturnal. Now I¢m thinking maybe an owl? Whatever it was, it only kept me awake a couple of minutes.  When I finally woke up to stay awake, I could hear S.P.(aka Kaitlin) moaning. She had been awake for a while, and she was sick. Chameleon(aka Taylor) was there to help her, but I hated leaving.  I hope she¢s better. I needed a water refill after making hot chocolate with breakfast. Breakfast was a tortilla with almond butter. There was a creek just under a mile ahead, so I said my goodbyes and left for some water.  Hiking to the creek was down a nice wide path. I dropped my pack when I got there and commenced to collecting water. When I looked up toward the hill/boulder where the stream flowed out I saw a bunny rabbit. It was nestled up under the brush. She sat statue still but watched me the whole time. It didn¢t take long for me to realize she was covering the opening to her nest. I could hear little squeaks coming from behind her. I¢m sure my presence scared the bejeepers out of her, but she was a brave mama protecting her babies. I took a quick picture, and named her Merida.  The next half mile or so was more of the same. I enjoyed a nice wide path, and noticed fuzzy dandelions popping up all over. I also saw the most beautiful bird. It was bright orange with black wings. I¢ve got to look that up and figure out what kind it is.  I¢m thinking possibly an Oriole. He was too fast for a photo.  Starting around mile number two, today¢s hike got real! The terrain up to Firescald Knob was tough!  At times even dangerous. It was all boulders up to 4530ft elevation. At one point I had to climb up a large boulder.  I tossed my trekking poles up there and began to pull myself up. Above where I was climbing to, another boulder jutted out. I failed to consider the extra space my backpack would need above me.  You guessed it! I jumped up there and the boulder above caught my backpack sending me right back down. I was a little shook up, but not hurt. I took my backpack off and tossed it up there before my second attempt. It was a tough 3 miles of boulder climbing, but the rewarding view from the top was worth it! I sat up there and ate some candy while I soaked it all up. One nice thing about that big climb is that it was really well shaded. The sun was bright when I started up but those rhododendrons kept me comfortable.  Just as I was coming down the sky started changing. It was getting dark.  In a short time sprinkles were falling. I was within a mile of a shelter so instead of dropping pack to get out my rain gear, I made a mad dash for it. Just as I reached the shelter the skies let loose.  Perfect timing! I waited around 20 minutes or so at the shelter. It went back to sprinkling so I put on my rain gear and hit the trail...which was up. At the top the trail opened up into another beautiful grassy field. By the time I made it up there the skies were clear again. I dropped my pack one last time to put away my rain gear. Hiking in plastic really makes me sweat. Yesterday¢s hopes became today¢s reality.  The rains did come, and they cooled things down for a comfortable rest of the day. I had one more rocky climb. It was called Big Butt Mountain! I had to laugh! Who names these mountains? Big Butt came with a blue blaze bypass. Apparently Firescald Knob did too. But I¢m true to the thru, so I stayed on the white blaze for both of them. Big Butt was a climb, however, she was short and sweet. It was getting late, and I still had about 4 miles to get to Devils Fork Gap. This is where Papa Big Swig was waiting for me. The big climb and rain put me behind, but he didn¢t complain a bit. He was handing out trail magic to thru-hikers while he waited.  I reached the 300 mile mark today! And on the way to the camper there was a rainbow. I¢m going to chalk this up as another great day!  I think I¢ll post my picture of Merida the bunny rabbit tonight(because she¢s cute), but look through all of my photos and check out the views and terrain.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?