Date: 2014-04-19
From: Lance Creek Campground

To: Walasiyi-Inn at Mountain Crossings
Miles today: 7.4
Weather: overcast clouds

   So my things didn't get too wet but some water spots gathered on the floor. Everyone else seemed to be in the same boat with water splashing up though so that made me feel a little better. It was drizzling in the morning so of course another slow start. Short Ben showed up with my food bag and line and said "Happy Birthday!" which was really nice of him and funny since he didn't know my birthday is soon. He gave me an extra garbage bag to put my dirty tent in and that was wonderful because it was filthy.    Since I started late, I was alone for a lot of the day. And since I didn't cook dinner or breakfast and just ate a ProBar, I wasn't feeling do great in the beginning. I wanted to cook my dinner for lunch around halfway but really thought I had only gone two miles so I pulled out my Skittles and felt a lot better immediately. But within a few hundred feet I actually came across my planned lunch spot with was around four miles! I was so happy to get there to refuel before the "big climb" up Blood Mountain.    I met Jeremy there who is 28 and from Boston. He was still eating when I left but I ran into him again at the top of Blood. I felt 200 times better after eating and practically bolted up the whole mile up the mountain except the very end. It really wasn't bad at all and was incredibly beautiful. It was really foggy and creepy looking with a ton of gnarled trees and bright green leaves in some. It felt like a fantasy land; I loved it. Getting to the top was amazing too. Gorgeous, expansive views, trees, and huge rocks. And the shelter on top is all rocks and concrete. It was lightly drizzling but I still spent a good while there looking at everything and walking around.    Jeremy and I talked inside the shelter. He has this interesting thing he's doing where he asks people five questions: name, favorite color (his also green), age, where from, and if you like guacamole (he likes avocados but not guacamole, it's from the movie Step Brothers). I think it's a great way to remember conversations with people. I walked with him for the last two miles to Neel Gap. The downhill down Blood Mountain was dicey because of how rocky it is and everything was wet. We made good time though. We both were planning on going a little further after visiting Mountain Crossings but when I walked into the hostel to check out the hiker boxes, Paul was influencing me to stay the night. It was supposed to rain that evening so I wasn't minding being out in it again since my tent was already wet, but then I saw others with their tents hanging across their bunks to dry. Then Paul said, "It's about the experiences, not the miles." That sold me. Zach, both Bens, and a handful of other people were already there so I was sure I'd have a good time. I went back to Jeremy and let him know that it's only $17 to stay and there's still room. He decided to as well.    It was nice to lay out all my stuff especially food because I knew I needed to buy a few things to get me through the next four days. I rinsed my tent in the shower and hung it outside to dry off. Then I got my own shower! It felt great. The rest of my clothes got to go through the wash. Someone came by and dropped off a bunch of food so I grabbed the Clif Bar I saw and a Ramen pack that I made for dinner but used my own seasonings. Someone else left Easter candy as trail magic too but I couldn't have any of it. I did find a few oatmeal packets in the hiker box though so that was helpful. It's just a nice, friendly place to be and I'm glad I stayed. While cooking, some of us hung outside, sometimes inside watching old westerns or hanging on the couch or in the bunk area. Paul mentioned a deck area with a nice view so I went with Dan and the Bens to see it. There was a cat we played with and a giant Jenga set we didn't play with. It was a cool moment anyway hanging out there and reflecting on what we are doing. We're all really happy to be where we are.