Date: 2010-04-17
From: Standing Bear

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: light rain

Woke up before sunrise. Packed up my gear and headed to the kitchen. Ate maple nut and apple outmeal. Drank a ton of water trying to hydrate myself for the hike ahead. I noticed that the acoustic guitar had been completely smashed. Apparently, Curtis (the proprietor) came out in a fit of rage, began yelling, causing quite the scene and then busted his own guitar alah Pete Townsend style! I heard that he (Curtis) was complaining about people playing "Kumbyah" all the time and that he was sick of the crap. I thought I'd heard a comotion from the peaceful comfines of my tenting spot in the garden. Anyways, I helped "Hawk" straighten up the place while I waited for Fun Dip and McKinley. Fog and I ate breakfast before he left. I paid my bill and said goodbye to Curtis' many, many dogs. Ben, ATroll's dog, is being boarded here while they hike the Smokey's. It started raining as soon as we left. Cold and a light drizzle. Windy. Felt sore initially but warmed up quickly. I could feel all those calories burning away. Wore only my rain jacket because I wanted to preserve the integrity of my dry clothes. I'm a sissy! Haha. Snowbird Mtn. was completely engulfed in fog. I couldn't see 20ft in front of me. I also had to pee at least a dozen times. Fun Dip started calling me "Number 1" We walked up an old wagon road most of the way. I kept a close eye out for the trails exit. We almost missed it. The exposed summit was very windy and cold. I had to batten down the hatches to stay warm. I began dreading the downhill because my body temperature was going to drop. The weather started to break a little. The wind died down as we took a lunch break at Groundhog Creek Shelter. Anthony was there and another gentleman. I talked to Anthony about his Steripen. He isn't having the same problems I'm experiencing. I ate my blueberry cliff bar that Lish sent me! Mmmmm! When we arrived at Max Patch Rd there was TRAIL MAGIC!!! I love weekends! Ramble-on and his friend were offering drinks, snack cakes and hot dogs. Chef left before he could get any! HAha! Impatient! Six Course (John from Blueberry Patch...called that because he eats so much!) came and a whole crowd of people enjoyed the magic moment and sugary delightfulness! Ramble-on hiked in 09. He knew many people who contracted giardia and lymes disease. Made me worry. Fun Dip, Anthony, and Six Course hiked up to Max Patch with me. Incredible!!! It's like a golf course. The weather was great and we could see for miles! Very, very windy though. Had to lean into the wind. I got excited about being there and started running through the grass for Fun Dip to take a picture. His herding dog...McKinley attacked me! She started nipping at my ankles. She torn my rain pants actually. She even knocked me down. Gesh, no more running around her! Anthony was a surveyor and he told us how difficult it must have been to survey this mountain within 2000th of an inch. I was tempted to go on to Walnut Shelter, but decided to chill and push tomorrow. I used the "denatured alcohol" that Curtis (Standing Bear) sold me. The flames coming out of my stove were three feet high! My Heine-pot turned sooty black! Ahhh! I noticed that the stuff I had in my container already didn't mix with the stuff I bought. It was like oil and water! I think I picked up the wrong container. Of course, I would go for the $3/oz container vs. the $4/oz container! Well now that my cooking pot is black I got soot all over me. I looked like a chimney sweeper after 1 day from a shower, and a started a grease fire with my sausage! Fiasco! Well, I'm expecting a real cold night. Maybe more rain tomorrow. I plan to ditch some gear at Hot Springs. 14.6 miles today. Postcard told me, "Don't let your miles out number your smiles!"