Date: 2016-05-19
From: The Captains Place

To: High on the ridge. Mile 681.9 
Miles today: 26.6

I had a good night sleep in my tent at The Captains. The rapids in the river were very soothing to sleep next too. I was up around 6:30am. I did the normal morning stuff got everything packed up and left at 7:30am. I had some discussion with this other nice guy who tented near me. His name was Odisious or something like that. I was looking for an alternative to zip lining back accoss the river. In the end I zip lined myself back to the other side. It is tough by yourself as you have to pull yourself across. It is much easier if someone else pulls you over. So I got myself across without any issues. I unhooked my pack from the caribeaner and carried it up the hill. I strapped it on and all I needed was my trekking poles and I would be on my way. The problem was I forgot them on the other side of the river. Dang it all. I slipped my pack off and went back to the zip line and Odisious was just about to come over. I yelled to him and asked if he could get my poles. He went and got them and then I pulled him over. He had fallen in the river trying to come across the day before so he was happy to just hold on this time and have me pull him over and I was happy to have my poles. So now I was really ready to head up the trail. It was 7:50am. The morning hike was soggy with a lot of mud. I also had a big climb. It did not take long and I was back in the fog. The weather was for fog, clouds, and rain showers. I had a good feeling the sun would come out and that it would not rain all day though. I made good time up the mountain. Once it flattened out it got really rocky with larger rocks. They were real slick due to being wet. I was feeling good and was going through them at a good clip. Apparently too good of a clip because before I knew it I had slipped and I went to catch myself with my trekking pole like I always do, but this time the trekking pole also slipped on the rocks and down I went. I landed hard on my side. My hands were scuffed a bit but the big hit came to my right ribs. That is what I landed on and I landed on a big rock. It hurt but all I heard in my brain was "get up" so I did rather quickly as the ground and rocks were all wet. I just got hiking again but at a much slower pace. It was right after this that I caught up to Shades who had left town before me. It was nice to see a friendly face. I told her about my fall and we hiked together for an hour or so until she stopped for a break. I continued on and made it to the second shelter by 12:30pm. Golden was there. I have crossed paths with him on and off for over a week now. He is a very nice man probably in his Mid to upper fifties. I moved on from the shelter after a short break. I had another big climb and as I was making my way up the mountain the sun started to come out. It would come in and out for the next few hours. The weather in the afternoon was great for hiking. No fog, no rain, good air, and some sun. I was feeling really good. I passed my third shelter in the afternoon and kept on going. There was one more big climb before a nice ridge hike. The skies continued to clear and more and more sun shined down. This last climb however was brutal. There were no switch backs. It was straight up for about 1300 feet. I was determined and I dug in and marched up. I was breathing hard but I made it up in just over an hour. Once up on the ridge there were no more clouds in the ski and it was all sunny. I had a feeling that was going to happen today. I had an amazing four mile evening hike across this ridge. I passed my forth shelter of the day around 7:00pm it was so beautiful up there I could not stop. There were several spots where the views from some of the ledges were awesome. I even saw a deer about fifty feet from me at one point. He was not even afraid of me. He looked at me and then kept eating the vegetation. I videoed him and he still did not run off. It was a big dear too. The scenery all along this ridge was really nice. I got a little carried away because now it was getting late. I had to find a place to camp or hike three miles down the mountain in the dark to the next shelter. I knew I would find a place, just like I new it would turn out to be a great day with sunshine. I found the perfect spot at the end of the ridge. I set up camp as the moon was rising in the east and the sun was setting in the west. Totally beautiful. Even though I fell today and hurt my ribs it was one of my best days out here. I am safe and comfortable on top of a mountain in my tent. Today is also my friend Sue's birthday. Sue has been my best friend for the past five years. She is an amazing women who I will always think fondly of. So Happy Birthday Suzy. I wish you all the faith, hope, and love in the world. You deserve it all.