Date: 2017-05-14
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

This was a day marked by delays. I was the first in the camp to wake up, as I was anxious to set out with an ambitious goal of hiking past the next shelter to the following one 15.5 mi away. I packed my sleeping gear in record time then headed to the bear cables to retrieve my bear bag only to encounter my first delay of the day (no, not a bear). Another hiker had jury-rigged a cable to the one I was using, causing the tension to be so tight, I could not release it. I don¢t fault the hiker¢there were fewer cables here than in other locations, and each was already overloaded with bear bags. One cable was rendered useless because it was too short to be anchored to the tree (to lift the bag out of bear¢s reach, one end of the cable hooks to a nearby tree). One resourceful hiker found a way to jury-rig the short cable to the cable I (and others) was using. I had to wait 30 minutes for someone to wake up and help me retrieve my bag¢it took three of us to release the tension. I dubbed this delay, the ¢bear bag debacle delay.¢The second delay came about two miles into the hike¢another stretch of rock-climbing. This section would have been more tolerable had my backpack cooperated. It kept slipping off my hips, pulling back on my shoulders. I had to stop three times to try to make the adjustment. Meanwhile, all the hikers who left camp after me were skipping up and down the boulders like mountain goats. Like yesterday, a bypass was offered, which would have been an easier trek, but I wanted to stay true to the trail. So much for my ¢early¢ start.Hiking was fairly easy after the boulders, and I reached the next shelter early enough that I felt confident I could continue on and make my goal of reaching Hogback Ridge Shelter, but I still had nearly 9 miles to go. I ate lunch quickly and resumed hiking. About 2.5 miles into the hike I saw a bear bag hanging over the trail with a note inviting hikers to help themselves to whatever was inside. It was a clear bag, and it looked like a lot of good things, but I resisted¢not because I wasn¢t hungry, but because I didn¢t want to take time to un-do the intricately wrapped and knotted cord that held the bag in place. This would have to be a gift for a more patient (and speedy) hiker. Soon afterwards, I reached a road, where it seemed the trail abruptly ended. No signs indicating where to pick it up on the other side of the road. I paced back and forth, crossed the street and back, retraced steps on the trail to see if I missed a sign. Nothing. Suddenly, I heard the faint calling of a fellow hiker¢it was Bean, yelling to me from an obscure path across the road, beckoning me in her direction¢she had found where the trail continued. I was so grateful that she recognized I needed to be re-directed. If it had not been for Bean, who knows how long I would have been pacing back and forth looking for this ill-marked path. It was a short one, but a delay nonetheless.The next delay was self-inflicted. I voluntarily went off trail, following the signs to the hostel that advertised ¢fresh fruit,¢ a temptation I could not resist. Unfortunately, the fruit was all gone by the time I got to the hostel. Since I was already there, I stayed for some pizza and to chat with other hikers.  It was nearly 4 pm, and I still had almost 6 miles to go¢I knew I¢d have to pick up my pace, and I knew I could not afford any more delays¢self-inflicted or otherwise! Unfortunately, the delays were not done yet. About two miles after returning to the trail from the hostel, I missed a switchback and continued straight. It wasn¢t until I started seeing the trash on the path¢rusted out auto parts and an old metal wash basin¢that I realized I strayed. I did an about face to retrace my steps and get back on track, but I was no longer able to see the path I followed. I soon found myself wading in knee-deep weeds and listening for the waterfall that would point me in the right direction. And praying. The approx. 15 minutes I was wandering seemed like hours, and when I finally found the trail, I was overwhelmed with a thankful heart, knowing that it was the Lord who led me there. I later learned that I was not the only hiker who missed the switchback.   With about four miles yet ahead, I considered the possibility of stopping at a campsite short of the shelter. However, when I arrived at the campsite, no one else was there, and I didn¢t want to stay there alone, so I pressed on. Daylight was quickly fading, and I found myself singing ¢Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path¢ (from Ps 119:105). Finally, at 8:30 pm, I dragged my weary but thankful self into the shelter site--with 30 minutes of daylight to spare. I scarfed down a quick dinner, hung my bear bag, and was snug in my sleeping bag by 9:30. The delays were frustrating¢not in my plan¢but I am grateful to have made it to camp in one piece.  If ever I doubted that God is always by my side, I need only to remember this day.