Date: 2018-02-22
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: light rain

Today began with, wait for it, thick fog! I thought things were setting up for a repeat of the last several days of gloom. However, today the trail provided in a big way. The fog started lifting as I was getting ready to ascend Mt. Albert. On the way up I started seeing splashes of sunlight and blue sky. By the time I got to the top it was mostly cloudy but there were views of the surrounding mountains in all directions. Mt. Albert has a fire tower on it that is closed, but I was able to climb the stairs to just below the enclosed upper portion. When I got to the top of the mountain, PT, Lotus, Dan, Jeremy and Buddy were already there taking in the views. I had been on a couple of nice overlooks when I was on the trail in January when it was sunny, but for these guys it was the first time they had been able to see much of anything.Mt. Albert is the symbolic 100 mile mark for NOBO¢s. Three quarters of a mile later is the actual 100 mile mark. I was the last one off the top and when I got to mile 100 the rest of the guys were setting up to do a video shoot for Dan¢s YouTube channel. So I got to be included in the video. It will be uploaded in about two weeks. I believe the channel is Intrepid Dan. The climb up Albert was strenuous, with the last quarter mile being very steep. I told myself it was like climbing a mini version of The Incline in Colorado Springs and just took my time picking my way up and over mostly jumbled rocks. At one point I hit a full on rock scramble and had to carry both trekking poles in my left hand and pull myself up with my right. Today was also long. This was my third double digit mileage day in the last five. My feet are still hanging in there, though they definitely wanted out of the boots by the time I got to the shelter. I did develop a lot of pain in my right shin today. I was worried that it might be shin splints, but when I got to camp I could see the spot that hurt was red so I must have done something specific to that spot. Tomorrow morning¢s hike is a 3.8 mile nero, so I¢m hoping it doesn¢t bother me too much. I will need to evaluate this and make sure that I¢m good to go before continuing because the next resupply is 28 miles ahead. The last few miles today were pretty miserable. I¢m taking a zero in Franklin Saturday and I hope that¢s all the rest I will need. I¢m in the shelter tonight with Lotus. He will be moving on tomorrow and bypassing Franklin. PT is set up in his tent. He and I will hike together and his wife will pick us up at the next gap and take us to town. PT plans to continue on Saturday. Shoemaker went to Franklin tonight and likely will be continuing on tomorrow. I met Lotus last Saturday, Shoemaker on Tuesday, and PT yesterday but I¢m going to miss these guys. The shared experience of the trail brings people together quickly. Because it seems like everyone out here right now is either faster or slower than I am, I¢m grateful for having been able to spend a few days with these guys. Tonight I met Fresh Ground. Fresh Ground is a Trail Angel and former thru hiker. He runs what he calls the Leap Frog Cafe. He sets up at a gap and makes breakfast for and gives sodas and fresh ground coffee to thru hikers as they pass thru. He then moves ahead on the trail and does it again, sometimes seeing the same hikers multiple times. He is hammocking in the gap just below us tonight and has promised to bring us coffee in the morning.  As we settle into bed tonight the moon is lighting up the woods and there is no fog. Also no water dripping off trees onto the metal shelter roof all night. Life is good.Zin Master ¢The journey is the reward.¢