Date: 2014-04-10
From: Brown Gap Campsite

To: Campsite in Unnamed Gap
Miles today: 12.3

The weather today was gorgeous. After a cool start (hands still get really cold handling tent poles and stakes at 7 am), it warmed up into the 70's. I was wearing my short sleeve shirt and shorts by early afternoon. Today I summited Max Patch, the most well known grassy bald on the trail. It was 11 am and sunny, but windy enough that I didn't stay at the top too long. Last year First Gear and I lay our sleeping bags out and sunned ourselves for a couple of hours. If I'd summited later in the day, I probably could have done the same. Right Here was at the summit too, so we exchanged cameras to each get a photo of ourselves. The views from Max Patch are of endless mountains and grasslands. Just in the past couple of days trees are flowering and grass is turning green. I still walk endless miles over last year's dead leaves and this year's mud, however (the latter, minimal today). Missed you on Max Patch First Gear. A girl's best friend in the woods are not diamonds, but white blazes. I missed a turn today, and probably walked .1 mile before I got suspicious that I was not on the trail. I checked Awol, took my backpack off, and walked a little further, saw no blaze, and decided to backtrack. Sure enough I had turned the wrong way. I'd even looked carefully when I got to an intersection where the trail crossed an old dirt road. Fortunately, I caught my mistake before I'd walked very far. Both Tea Bag and Category 5 said they did the same thing. There are places on the trail where blazes are plentiful, and others where intersections and turns are tricky and blazes are few. David, I am being very good about scanning my environment.I stopped at Walnut Mountain Shelter for a short break. Mayonnaise Pocket, Texty, Tea Bag, and Category 5 were there having lunch, all of whom I met and camped with last night. They are pushing ahead more miles than I am today, but I should see them in Hot Springs when I get there. I have been leapfrogging the couple from Luxembourg for a second day. Margot and Pierre hike at about the same speed as I, and have about the same tolerance for number of miles, so tonight we are camping together for the second night. So far we are the only hikers at this campsite. We chatted over dinner and I took a peek inside their huge tent, quite a contrast compared to my one person tent. It is fascinating out here to see the variety of gear and comfort items. Like hiking your own hike, gear preference is just that. There is no right or wrong gear, only personal preferences. Tonight is one of the warmest we've had. There is no wind and I am comfortable in my base layer and down vest only. Out of nowhere, my left knee started bothering me today. There is no ice in these woods, so hopefully a night's rest will do the trick. I've been very lucky so far in the injury department. I was playing the "pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" mantra in my head this afternoon. I will be in Hot Springs tomorrow, a very hiker friendly town. There is a hiker festival going on this weekend, so the place should be hopping. Thinking of you a lot today, Toretto. When I did this section of the trail last year, it was with you. I have very find memories of those days. I love you.