Date: 2006-03-04
From: Hawk Mountain Shelter

To: Gooch Mountain Shelter 
Miles today: 7.3
Weather: clear sky

12:46pmSo last night was -physically at least- the worst night of my life. I was beyond cold, and worse, I was lying on a sleeping pad that was only marginally softer than the wooden platform of the shelter floor. At least two people were snoring loudly, although that didn't bother me all that much compared to the other stuff. I slept maybe 2.5 or 3 hours. At about 2:30 I left the shelter and joined my parents in their tent. I lay between them and was a tiny bit warmer and more comfortable than in the shelter. I cried because I was so miserable and knew I might quit if I had many more nights like that. Awful. I got maybe 1.5 hours straight hours of sleep in the tent, the rest was in 5-10 minute snatches here and there. I'm so tired and sore. I have 20-mile days planned down the road. What if I can't do them? 2:42pmSo I kinda have a group. It's great. We're going to try to make Neels Gap tomorrow, which is crazy, but also awesome because that means more food tonight, and real food tomorrow night. A day hiker just stopped and gave us a little bottle of trail magic in the form of vodka, but there are so many of us I doubt it will do anyone much good.3:43pmSo I have a trail name I guess. Hope it sticks. "Pinky". I've been thinking about such different things since I've been out here. My heartrate, my breath, climbing, sweating, rhythm, sunshine, thirst, how much damn longer I have. How many more nights. Shit. But it's good I think, to think about different things. Encyclopedia Brown. Just thought about that for a second for some reason, so thought I'd put it down. The sun's out. My nose is burning, but I'm just happy that it's warm and beautiful and that I am here. And that I have friends. We're going to have an awesome fire tonight, we have a ton of wood. I just want it to be 7 o'clock but still warm. 5:13pmA little colder. I don't have all my clothes on yet, but close. I want to make the rest of my food now so I can get rid of it and put my stove away and warm up. I wonder how far I'll get. I have to get far enough so it's worth it. I have to have stories and trials and successes and two days doesn't cut it. I'm full. No, I'm hungry. Hm.7:37pmSitting around a great fire. Great, except that I'm in the seat where the smoke blows every two seconds. There are a ton of us here tonight. Here's who's here: Swansons, Sunshine, Kurly, Tofurky, Coconut Monkey (who had one of those army dinners tonight that weighs a ton and he got his name because he's carrying a monkey figurine that he got in the Bahamas that is carved out of a coconut), Kaptain Kangeroo, Boomer, Creig, Coca-Cola, Big Tex, Gumby, Achilles, and T.P. (a huge old guy who's name isn't really T.P., but that's what we've called him and he tried to take a seat and ended up falling down and getting stuck in the wood pile which was pretty hilarious). Smoke in the eyes. Sparks flying all over me. I need to take more pictures. Tomorrow's hike will be 15.6 if we go all the way to Neels Gap. One big climb I hear (Blood Mountain), but I think I'd rather do one big one than many in rapid succession, even if they are smaller. Two seconds after taking his swig of vodka Sunshine let out an enormous fart. Hilarious. We're so immature. But this is so great. I'm so happy. Tonight'll be hell again I bet, but for now, this does the trick. I think it'll get even better when I realize how long this trip will take. How long will I last?