Date: 4/5/04
Starting Location: Spring Mt. Shelter
Destination: Rector Laurel Road
Miles: 24.6
Total Miles: 315.3
After saying goodbye to Emily this morning and getting a late 9am start, I hiked all day today until just a few minutes after sunset. Tenting out next to the trail for just the second time so far, this time without a shelter in sight. Blue sky all day with lots of sun and snow covering the trail above 4000'. The snow only drained my energy even more by all the slipping and sliding I did just to take one step forward. Still, I managed to post a big-miler regardless, and my legs still feel good after nearly 25 miles. Met a group of thru-hikers today: James "The Wandering" Nunn, Wounded Knee, Honeypie, and Hoss. Also, thanks to Tinder, Grass, MC, Sevy, K-Less, Georgia, and Uncle Ben for the cheeseburger! Just goes to show you that Trail Magic comes in all forms, even from fellow thru-hikers. Normally, I wouldn't eat a cheeseburger without first taking a good look at the toppings, but hungry as I was, I just gobbled, nay, inhaled it down without the slightest care. Thanks to this great gang of thru-hikers—that burger really got me down those last 3 miles!
