Date: 2014-04-22
From: Blue Mountain Shelter

To: Blue Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

   Last night, Ben and I went behind the shelter to sit on some fallen trees and watch the sun set over the mountains. It was a really nice time and the temperature was great. There were some big clouds more above us but long, thin ones closer to the sun that made the colors split and reflect beautifully. After that, we headed up to build a fire. It took a little while but we got a good small one going for a bit. Ivonne helped as well and then we all sat around it (Tony too) and talked about doing the trail and what people at home thought. It was a great evening.    I slept okay but definitely woke up a bunch since I was nervous about mice in the shelter. I only heard a couple of noises but luckily didn't feel anything. I'm thinking I like tent sleeping more but shelters would probably grow on me as I'd get more comfortable. It wasn't cold either and I was kinda warm in my fleece so the occasional cold breeze felt wonderful on my face. The best part about this shelter was the sunrise. Ben and I shot up out of our bags at the same time as we sensed the glow coming in. The mountains were a hazy blue-gray and grew more vibrantly blue with time. The sky was filled with various colors and the bare trees were all silhouettes against the sky. I took a few photos but we were really waiting for the bright red sun to show up. Ben tapped me after awhile so I leaned up and there it was. From my view laying down, the edge of the table was in the way. It was breathtaking. So big and saturated with color. We watched the night fall and the day rise. The Earth was just turning as we laid quiet and admired. It's a perfect way to wake up. I got out to take more photos and then laid in my bag and watched the colors become more muted and fade. There was a gorgeous orange glow throughout parts of the shelter that I stared at as well. I stretched my arms out of my bag and noticed how vibrant my two long sleeves and watch were. Then I acknowledged my arms' and hands' shadows on the wall behind me and just felt so content and happy to be in that moment. I am so humbled being here and grateful that I had the opportunity to do this and that I am/was brave enough to do it.    I kept forgetting to write that yesterday, two girls were doing a three day hike and offered me and Ben some dried pineapples and they were sooo good. I've never had them before but now I will definitely seek them out. Also writing this now so I won't forget: Paul-You blind, man? Quest-Yup. Paul-No shit!   For a few hours we were all just hanging out on our own. I started listening to one of my audiobooks - Full Catastrophe Living - and it was really enjoyable as just a little intro to mindfulness and awareness. I stopped listening after a bit when Prodigy came in and started talking a lot and complaining about how what he just walked on wasn't a trail. You're in the wrong place, dude. Soon after him came his mom, Inchworm, and Quest with his guide dog, Vision. They all are going to stay in the shelter. Someone said Paul and Jim were heading toward here so we knew it would be a party or at least better with them here. And of course it was as soon as they came. Enrique left unfortunately because his knee was hurting him too much. The two guys with huge packs and a bunch of extra luxuries showed up as well as another woman with three kids. So it's pretty busy here.    In preparation of the rain (which still hadn't really came yet at 1:00), Paul wanted to set up a tarp on one side of the shelter for extra protection. Ben made some wedges out of sticks and Paul started putting it up. I went to help him with the rest, or attempt to. I tried getting onto his back which was amusing because I couldn't throw my leg over his shoulder. Finally I stood on a bench and just got on top of him. I was able to put most of it up except the last part was a little too high to reach. I climbed the rafters of the shelter and tried sticking my foot in other places for leverage. I almost got it in but was too high up and at an awkward angle for me to do it. We got a smaller kid up there to finish it but it was fun and a good way to pass the time even if it doesn't pour. I walked off with Paul to find a long branch to lean against one side of the tarp/shelter that we couldn't tie up. We couldn't really find one but sat on a branch for a bit that was see-sawing up and down. I brought up that maybe the name Spider is a little more fitting now because of my climbing in the shelter and he agreed and brought it up to the others in there and they all agreed. I like it. I figured out a neat way to sign my name and wrote it up on the corner I was hanging up in.    It has really only drizzled randomly so far but I'm still glad we didn't risk it and hike on because it probably would have downpoured on us. Or the shelter would've been full. This has been a nice way to spend Earth Day though. I guess I'm celebrating it every day. A campfire was built around dinner time and everyone is sitting around it now. David and Heather are a middle-aged couple I met a few days ago and have been running into. David brought a small guitar and has been playing some songs. They sang one together and it was really sweet. They got married three years ago and this is sorta their honeymoon which is awesome. They are really nice people and Heather has remembered my name since the first quick moment we met on the beginning of my day two hike.    The sun was glowing occasionally on some faces and tents when it stuck out from behind the clouds. It's feeling like the quintessential campfire evening and I'm in awe that these days/nights can get better than past ones. Just perfect.