Date: 2016-05-10
From: hogback ridge shelter

To: bald mountian shelter
Miles today: 10.0

Day 30- May 11, 2016 7:00amOne of the greatest things about the trail is how one instant everything can be going wrong, it could be miserable and rainy, you could be hungry and losing the mental battle, but then all of a sudden, out of nowhere everything flips. All it takes is a ten minute break or a kind gesture from a stranger or the rain to stop and the sun comes out. Currently I am enjoying a rain storm from inside a dry shelter knowing that today I only need to hike 10 miles and I have all day to do it. The thunder is banging like someone hitting a tin roof and all I can do is appreciate my current state of being warm and dry and in no hurry. Just a few changes to this situation and I could be in a dreary state of mind and body. Right now is good. Later could not be, but I know that it only takes an instant for the seemingly never ending struggle to end.4pmThis morning started out rainy with a forecast of rain and zero prospects of getting any shelter space at the next shelter where the other twenty hikers planned to go. We knew this starting out and so dregs was in no hurry to pack up and leave. I , on the other hand, was still anxious to get moving knowing that we could still beat a few people there and get an ok camp site. We didn't leave until 10:30am and it was raining hard all morning. As we climbed the first large hill, a man was walking towards us with a strange box. As we met, he asked us if we were through hikers and opened a large box of dunkin doughnuts! The three of us, dregs, funfact, and myself grabbed fritters and doughnuts and a few bananas. It was a really nice treat seeing as how we were in for a cold wet day uphill. After about a mile of hiking, the rain seemed to slow and then stop. I was getting hot in my rain jacket and was also struggling with my hat and water bladder so we stopped so I could get situated. We started hiking again and almost immediately we heard a crack of thunder and it began to pour rain. There was no time, I was drenched. I was cold and frustrated and not looking forward to our camp situation later. As we hiked on I got so cold I had to put my wet rain jacket on to warm the water between me and it. We kept going and I began to accept my discomfort. The rain slowed and it became a little more pleasant. A large climb came up that would lead to Big Bald and it was a challenging climb in the wet slippery mud. About half way up we saw a cooler set up under a tree. I figured it would be empty because of all the people who left the shelter before us and the fact that all coolers so far have been empty. We opened it up and to our delight there was tons of cookies, a gallon of milk, hard boiled eggs and apples. The cup of milk was so incredibly creamy, cold and fresh. The cookies were soft homemade peanut butter and the eggs were delightful. Second trail magic of the day and this rough morning was starting to really turn around. But my feet still hurt and were soggy and it was going to be a rough cold evening setting up a tent and very possibly getting rained on for the rest of the night. We made it to the top of Big Bald and the 360 view was stunning. We were surrounded by mountains with clouds drifting between them. Best view yet. We got some pictures and headed off, only 1 more mile to the shelter that should be packed. Walking down that last hill was tough because the mud was thick and slippery. All of a sudden I hear a thud! I turned around and funfact was on the ground. Hilarious. Third round of trail magic. We all had a good laugh and continued on. The path to the shelter appeared quickly and the rain had stopped. The sun came out and we walked cautiously to the shelter. I couldn't hear anything and didn't see any sign of people. We got to the shelter and peaked in. Empty. First ones there, incredibly. It was almost 4pm and no one had stopped in to this shelter that so many people had planned on staying at. I guess they pressed on with the good change in weather. Either way, I was so excited. It was a big shelter with individual sections for each sleeper and two levels. The shelter was ours, the sun was out, we had two rounds of trail magic, and my feet were able to dry out with no additional damage from the rain. We had a mini cigar before dinner that we have been carrying from hot springs and then ate dinner with other hikers who showed up. Later another hiker came in and had a few strawberries to share, which was delightful as well. This day really turned around from rainy and rough to extremely pleasant. God has really taken care of us and has been faithful in teaching me to rely on him and trust him. This morning I wrote down a thought that was given to me by him and He followed it up with a direct example showing his love.