Date: 2007-10-29
From: Bears Den Hostel

To: Dick's Dome Shelter
Miles today: 18.3
Weather: clear sky

mi. 18.3sleep shelterdest. Dicks Dome Shelter day 109 I woke up late again. It's easy when I am sleeping warm in a good place. But I finally managed to pack up and get headed south by 9am. I added a couple candy bars to my foodbag. I needed a little more to make it the extra day to town. I said my goodbyes and drank some coffee and went on my way. Today I was hiking over the dreaded roller coaster, Mmaa ha ha ha (evil mad scienctist voice and laugh). I started off freezing singing Roller Coaster of Love, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers version. Yet again I don't know all words so that didn't last very long. I did pass the guy I mentioned on yesterday's entry. Funny how people think their section is the best or hardest. I just shack my head and move on, its faster that way. My original plan was to go 23 miles and make for a quick into town the next day. I could be in by noon. Instead with the late start and the dreaded roller coaster (mad scienctist voice again) I didn't make as good time as I wanted. I also didn't want to night hike for no reason. So I stopped early. I was only going to get to the next shelter anyways. I really noticed my endurance ramping up. I keep a good little click over the ups and down. I think it was 10 over 13 miles, or something like that. The ups slow you down regaurdless. I felt great going over them. Today I also passed by a medows state park. A great stop for a late lunch. I passed what I thought was a hunters blind. Later on I remember hearing people talk at the dinner last night about a wildlife camera. I also remembering there is no hunting where I was at. I was past the point of going back. I should have checked it out. I would have waved to the camera. Ok I would have made animal faces at it too. Next time. Tonight I am staying in a rather strange shelter. It is dome shaped with hex sides. It has roofing shingles on the sides to keep the water out. Lets just say it isn't the nicest shelter I have seen. It is also down in a valley, or as they refer to it here a hallow. It is definitly colder here than on thr ridge. I need to start camping up there. It is a good 10 or 15 degress colder down here. I would have hammocked but I am really concerned with one of my ridgeline tie-outs. The seam is starting to come undone. I would rather not use it until I get a chance to reinforce it. I will still work, I just don't want it to get worse. I did manage to get a little fire going to warm me up a little. I ended up burning most of the used part of my guide book to almost get it going. Then I realized that all the dead leaves laying around burn, so I keep piling them on untl the fire got going. I was glad to have my cell phone tonight. I will be able to charge it up tomorrow night. So I made a few phone calls to people I haven't talked to in awhile. I a surprised I even got reception here. It goes t show that I should try i reguardless i         I am also listening to either a dog or most likely a coyote or something howling close by at the moon. It's not full, but full enough. I little disconcerting. But there really isn't anything I can do about it. Once I realized that, it makes it easier to sleep. I also check the shelter registry to see if anyone staying talks about any animal issues. None reported so it should be all good. I do feel good that I used the hoist cable. It is basically a cable inbetween 2 trees to throw your foodbag line over. I think my foodbag was haning under the 10 foot line, but oh well. Off to bed and town tomorrow.