Date: 2005-05-22
From: Walker Gap

To: Laurel Creek Campsites
Miles today: 12.9
Weather: clear sky

Laurel Creek Campsites 7:34pm - Run Like HellThe day did indeed start at 3:45 am and the day indeed has been long. We hit the trail by 4:45 and hiked for a few miles until dawn. We learned that night hiking is better when the moon is overhead, a lesson that we won't be able to apply until next time. We did manage to surprise Africa, who had cowboyed right next to the trail. Some of the views into the valley were spectacular. There was an isolated patch of fog lying overtop a single farm, spilling into a gap in the ridge behind.A minor tragedy struck when I realized that my camera was missing its lense hood. I looked around but couldn't find it. I eneded up running a mile and a half back to our breakfast spot to look for it, but to no avail. As always happens in these situations, Crazy Legs found the lens hood right after I left. I returned to the group after my unsuccessful run and was asked if I had checked the top of my pack. "No," I replied, "it's the sort of thing I don't typically remove." Then I understood what he really meant.At the same spot (Garden Mountain) I also stumbled upon a geocache. Geocaching is a sport where sombeody hides a "treasure chest" somewhere and publishes the GPS coordinates on the Internet. If you find one, you're welcome to take a treasure if you leave one in return. While looking for my lens hood, I spied a small tupperware container at the base of a tree. Inside were a few worthless knicknacks. We didn't take anything, but signed its register and very briefly mentioned how we found it.We took a short lunch at the next shelter and then pushed on an extra five miles to some campsite. I was glad it was flat and that we weren't going further. My energy level crashed and I felt just like the living dead. I dragged one foot in front of the other, willing myself to press on. Finally, I emerged at the trailhead, and found everyone else clustered around a truck. They had made a new friend, Chainsaw. Chainsaw ran a few people into town to pick up burger supplies for the evening and left some snacks for the rest of us. I don't know the full story but apparently he is just wandering arond, looking for a piece of land near the trail where he can build a log cabin. He's also helping hikers and trail crews along the way. Tomorrow he says he'll cook us all omelettes. Until then, we're having fun hanging out with him and his beautiful dogs.There is also a cooler at this campsite. A trail angel named Trail Dreamer swung by this afternoon to refill it with orange juice, capris suns, and candy. She told us that a local church will be hosting an all-you-can-eat breakfast and will run a shuttle from the campsite. Unfortunately it didn't start until 9:30. While tempting, it's just too late for my tastes. I'd have to twiddle my thumbs in camp for two hours after getting up.The evening was capped off with hamburgers cooked over the fire, and some cheesecake desserts provided by Story. The campsite is pretty full tonight - the usual suspects, Sleeveless, Story, Skeet, DandyLion, and a section hiker named Dave. We're all having a good time except for when the wind shifts and everyone gets a whiff of my socks. Are they really supposed to stink this much?