Date: 2009-08-06
From: Garfield Ridge Campsite

To: Guyot Campsite
Miles today: 5.5

Topofgothics here... Crazy chick dragged me off-trail and up mountains I don't need to climb! We started out climbing down a waterfall. Tmax was taking her time and picking her moves carefully while my billygoat genes allowed me to slip down easily. Tmax here... Yes, I chose to keep all my bones in one piece! It was a short and interesting climb. We hiked over to the Galehead hut, dropped packs and took the short side trail up to the summit of Galehead (not on the AT but Topofgothics needed this one for his 115). From there Topofgothics took off in front to make the long steep climb up to South Twin then he would go over to North Twin (also not on the AT) while I meandered up the hill. It was a great climb up and the view from South Twin was amazing! I was dancing and singing as I located Topofgothics' pack to leave my bandana on it so he would know I made it past him. I got all the way to Guyot Mountain and was taking a break when Topofgothics caught back up to me. We decided to go off-trail to the Guyot campsite so we could climb Bond and West Bond. It would make for a short AT day (only 5.5 AT miles) but would be a longer hiking day (9 miles). Topofgothics took off in front of me to make sure we got a tent platform and I followed along slowly. You have to lose a couple hundred feet going down to the tent sites which made me very unhappy but at the bottom I was able to drop my heavy pack which more than made up for it! We washed up good, set up camp and then made the climb up Bond. What a great summit! Topofgothics and I continue to struggle with managing the tension in our relationship with his being out here for so long and were discussing the idea that I would get off trail so he could move at his own pace and not be held back by my slow trod. He clearly didn't want me to do this and we were disagreeing strongly about it. However, arrival on the summit and the peaceful healing nature of it helped us to re-center and set aside those relatively insignificant concerns. We then skipped over to West Bond but the quickly setting sun and increasing wind had us off that summit quickly. Back to the tentsite and a good night's sleep!****More extra mountains to climb and Terri and my biggest day, elevation-wise, yet! Galehead did not offer any great views, but hey, it was right there and we did drop pack. I headed for South Twin alone, since North Twin was also on my agenda and Terri did not want to hold up the day. The views up high were fantastic, and true to thru-hiker form I salvaged what I could from a large mess that was made of gorp from some weekend hikers. After they left and I was alone so no one would see, of course. When I finally caught up with TMax, she was waiting at the Guyot junction. We decided to head off trail and snag a few Bonds that evening. The trek to the Guyot Campsite side trail was easy, but the final 200-foot drop to the actual tent site really sucked. We ate and headed back up the trail. Once again I either said something or appeared to hurry her again, and she said that she was leaning towards only staying for one week instead of two. This was not what I wanted, and much consternation was in the air. I really needed to get back home and begin to repair this damage. The struggle between giving up the attempt and my ego saying ¢no way¢ again came into the mix. Even though it was gorgeous up on the summit of Bond, the pictures tell a different story. She was guilty of wanting me to be with her. Hubris was my crime. I had been trying to move fast to get home to her. That may end up being not quick enough, and I was pushing her too hard at the moment. The feeling was that of a blind man looking for his car keys, not realizing that they were useless to him anyway. The evening got better as the sun slid into it¢s little pocket on the horizon.