Date: 2003-08-25
From: Poplar Ridge Shelter

To: Crocker Cirque Campsite
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, it worked. I slept pretty darned good in my tent. It was a chilly night, but the temperature didn't drop any more from the time I crawled into my tent. Maybe the clouds I woke up to kept us insulated. It was still chilly this morning, the temp at about 44*, but unlike yesterday, there was no sun. The wind was calmer today too. The temperature today never got above 50*, and I was so lucky to have some light rain mixed in. I chose warm and wet, and put on my rain jacket today. It was just to chilly not to. It reminded me of the days in Shenandoah when it drizzled all day and stayed cool. Breaks were short and sweet then, and today.Even though there were many clouds today, they seemed to be higher up, providing a bit of a view below them. There weren't too many opportunities for views today, but what I saw was still pretty cool. I just love looking at mountains. The AT bypassed the peaks of Sugarloaf and Spaulding Mountains although we were very near the peak of Spaulding. I'd heard the peak of Sugarloaf, reached by a 0.6mi side trail offered great views, but today it was a no-brainer to skip that little journey. I was punished by a steep, rocky descent from Sugarloaf, while the rain made the rocks slippery. My favorite.Thirsty Boots and Tom were planning on going to Spaulding Mountain Lean-to, about 8mi from where we spent last night, but since we all arrived there by 11:10am, they decided to move on. Hotdog and I were planning a 14-mile day from the start, with the usual option to change plans at will. It's fun hiking in a group. The four of us don't hike together all day long, but we're close enough that we end up taking breaks together. Today, we all leap-frogged with Old Corpus too, who was at Poplar Ridge Lean-to last night and is here at the campsite tonight. He is hiking from Waynesboro, VA to Katahdin, then planning on doing the southern part too. He's doing the trail in an interesting way. He has a truck, which he shuttles a couple of weeks hike north, then hikes to it. He is also caching food along the trail, so rarely goes into town. When he gets to his truck, he takes a zero day, moving the truck ahead and caching more food along the way. Very interesting, and, I'd th! ink, a lot of logistics.We're all tenting/tarping tonight, and I'm hoping the rain holds off for the night, not just because I have clothes hanging out, but because I'd like to see the sunshine in the morning. I caught a glimpse of it today, shining brightly off my yellow jacket, and I said "That just means it will rain again." It did. Just lightly though, so it was bearable, and it hasn't rained since we got to the campsite. (Although, having thought and written that, it's sure to now.)Tom and Thirsty Boots have said they'd like to keep hiking with us, and I'd like to hike with them too. We all seem to have a good time around each other. But knowing Hotdog and I will be taking 3 days off when I go to the wedding, I'd rather split from them now, and get ahead, with the possibility of summiting Katahdin the same day as them. They are thinking they'll make it on te 12th, and I think we can do the same, even with days off. I really would like to hike with them from now until Katahdin, but that obviously won't work. Hopefully it will work out where I get to see them again, after tomorrow. They are planning on staying in Stratton tomorrow, while Hotdog and I are going in and back out of town.Today we went under 200 miles to go. I don't really think too much of it now, but I will be happier when we pass the 2000 mile mark. It's funny how the countdown doesn't excite me as much as it did just 100 or 200 miles ago. I don't know why. I mean, all the milestones are important and I enjoy reaching them, that's for sure, but right now I'm just enjoying each day.I am anxious to see Ma and Pa on Sunday (if things work out). It will be strange to spend 3 days in civilization, then finish up this hike. I have been thinking about it recently, and I think that I will have a difficult time adjusting to non-trail life. I can already tell. While I am ready for a break from walking every day, I know I will miss the trail, the mountains, and especially the wonderful people. I can talk about this experience until my tongue falls out, but I cannot explain this experience well enough for others to fully understand what it's like. That is what will be so hard: being around people that don't KNOW what it was like out here. Things are simple out here. I will miss that, and probably get overwhelmed by all of the little decisions that are made in a day in "real" life. I have enjoyed the simple life thoroughly. I'll continue to enjoy it until the adventure is over. Then I will worry about what do next.