Date: 5/11/04
Starting Location: Brown Mt. Creek Shelter
Destination: North Forks of Piney River
Miles: 13.9
Total Miles: 812.9
The second big long climb of Mom's trip, and she really did awesome today. Lots of flowers and green spring growth to see today, including my first sighting of a jack-in-the-Pulpit. Also learned about jewelweed today from Dead Man Walking and Love Bug—a plant with dull serrated leaves like a beech tree leave, whose stem can be used as an antidote for poison ivy. Lots of nice serviceberry, trillium, spiderwort, and wild strawberry to see as well.
Wonderful to have a reunion with Nails and Scarf last night and today (both anxious to meet my mom), and also to meet Frito and Spock (a very knowledgeable gear guy and former guide in Big Bend National Park). Mom's toughest and longest day so far—she's doing great even with her plethora of blisters. Spent the night in tents alongside a stream through a great thunderstorm.
