Date: 2018-10-14
From: Galehead Hut 

To: Zealand Falls Hut
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I want to start out by wishing my friend Rose a happy 54th! She¢s been my friend longer than any other!  In the end last night there was a guest no show. I was able to sleep on a top bunk. This is the 4th bunk up. Imagine that ladder climb on a 2am potty run! Staff at the Huts wake you up at 6:30 every morning by singing and playing an instrument. This morning was a flute and You Are My Sunshine. That¢s the song I sing to my granddaughter Charley Faye! It was nice. So, since I¢m a thruhiker and I work for stay I do not get to eat until all paying guests are done. I took this time to get dressed and get my pack ready for the day. Then I ate cold eggs, oatmeal, pancakes, and cranberry juice. Cold or not, it was delicious! My chore after eating was to sweep the dining room and bunk rooms. Zip zoom, I was on my way. Today¢s forecast called for 2 more inches of snow, wind gusts up to 86MPH, and below freezing temps. I was dressed appropriately. It was cold and snowy at the start, but the wind gusts weren¢t horrible. I¢m guessing the temp was around 20 degrees.  My trek started up South Twin Mountain at 4902ft elevation. As I was climbing up an icy rock slab, my Twinkie(snack for later) worked its way out of the pocket on my rain jacket. I made a failed attempt to recover it with my trekking poles. The poles just kept scooting my Twinkie further and further down a ribbon of ice on the slanted slab of rock. For a brief moment I contemplated dropping pack and getting it but I decided I would burn more calories doing that than it was worth. I continued up.  There was no view at the summit, just another cloud covered white abyss. I started down. The grade was actually quite nice! The terrain wasn¢t too bad either! AND...the sun started to peek through! It was becoming a beautiful day!  I crossed paths with another thruhiker. His name is Drizzy. He flipped up from Connecticut and is on his way back. He¢s discouraged in the Whites and mentioned quitting. I hope he sticks with it! He¢s sooo close! (Even though I agree the Whites are trying)I started up Mount Guyot 4580ft elevation. There, I got a view. A beautiful view! I was standing on snowy rocks and took a picture of snow capped mountains across from me, but below I can see there is no snow at all. As a matter of fact it looks like a warm sunny day. That¢s the difference 4000ft makes regarding weather. On the way down Guyot I stopped for a Cliff Bar. It was peanut butter banana flavored. That flavor is new to me, and now my favorite!  As I continued down I took another fall. The ice is so thin and transparent. I stepped on a log and BOOM! My left hip now has a bruise to match the right one from my fall on the Wildcats a few days ago. Next I started up Zealand Mountain. By now there was no wind. It was probably30 degrees, and sunny! I took off my rain gear, and my ski mask. This day is lovely!  Since it was so nice I decided to take a little blue blaze loop to a view. So glad I did! I dropped pack and enjoyed the view for 20 minutes while the sun warmed my soul. Pure bliss. I started down Zealand mountain which is known for its waterfalls. I began to hear them, then see them, and eventually even cross a few. They were beautiful and they lead me straight to Zealand Falls Hut. Papa Big Swig made a paying reservation for me tonight. Always my knight in shining armor. I will get hot food and a bunk without doing a thing. I¢m so excited!  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018) Where¢s your faith?