A very trying day
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,. children of all ages. This, is what we like to call a very trying day, physically and mentally. It goes a little something like this.
I once again awoke to a mosit ground and a damp surrounding. I ate breakfast in my tent, and then began the process of packing up and moving out.
The first three miles were mentally difficuly. I decided to take a snack break at Devil's Fork Gap, this is where the General caught me, I ended up hiking for the rest of the day with him.
We spent a lot of time talking about British military and their governing style in contrast to that of the United States. It was a wonderful way to pass the day.
I spent most of the day cursing the Carolina Mountain Club as I kept going up pointless ups and downs with little to no switchbacks.
Eventually I stumbled upon Hogback Ridge Shewlter. I took my lunch break there and mapped out my attack plan for the remainder of the day.
I determined I did not want to stop after only 8.8 miles, but I did not want to do another 10.1 to the next shelter. The General and I decided we would camp at Low Gap, roughly six miles north of the shelter.
After some ups and downs, we arrived at Low Gap. However, the spring listen in the guidebook was dry, and we both needed water, so we continued our march north.
About two miles later, we came across a spring. I packed up five liters, and set out in search of a place to camp for the night, we could not find anything on the windless side of the ridge, so we walked o. We eventually came to Big Bald. On a clear dayu, I iamgine there are great views of the surrounding peaks of souther Appalachia. Today, I had a wonderful view of the clound I was walking in.
I have been walking in clouds for the past two days now, it is really quite a thrill. At any given time, you can see ten feet in each direction.
By the time I reached the bald, I resolved to make it to the next shelter, as I had lost all motivation to set up my tent for the night.
I am now at Bald Mountain Shelter with the General, Ken Anderson, Cookie, and Kuda, a fellow Mainer from Jay.
Tomorrow I shall walk 16 miles to Erwin, where I shall split a room at the Hoilday Inn Express with the General.
This has certainly been a rough patch in my hike, I will be the firast to admit it. I still have my complete resolve to see this journey to the end. This is the key tp thisd journey. One must have a strong physical and mental will to see this to the end. No matter what happens, one must continue their journey north.
The American spirit is alive and strong in this hiker.
Tomorrow is a new day, and today will be rememered as the day i found my resolve.
And that's the way it was.
Kirby
Ga>ME 2008.
