Carrie and Bubbe picked me up at 8:00 am this morning and dropped me off at my starting point around 8:30 am. Carrie was such a great help to me the past few days, picking me up and dropping me off, that it was a bit sad to say our final farewells.

I began an upward climb at 8:45am on what would turn out to be my hardest day yet in terms of physical challenge. Not only was it challenging but there was only one view that stood out as being really beautiful. It was a day filled mostly with views of fallen trees and heavy vegation on both sides of the trail. I am not being critical, but I have been very underwhelmed with how very few beautiful sites I have seen on this section of the hike. Each day I start out thinking “maybe today”, but so far, just more of the same. 

I know I keep mentioning it, but I continue to be amazed at the vast sections of fallen trees. Today, I hit a section of downed trees that completely obscured the direction of the trail. I wandered around for about 10 minutes before finally seeing a small piece of red plastic tape hanging from a tree limb about 30 yards beyond the jumble of fallen trees. It took some effort to climb my way through the tree branches and over the large tree trucks, but eventually I got to the red tape and, sure enough, that is where the trail picked back up.

On the second half of my hike today, I had a very difficult climb up a mountain section that was 4.2 miles long with an elevation gain of 2,080 feet and a backpack that was fully resupplied and at maximum weight. There were long sections that had a grade of 12-15%. In these areas I had to stop about every 50 yards for a few seconds before moving on. It took me 2 hours and 20 minutes of leg burn to reach the summit. I was really exhausted when I made it to the top but, finally, there was a beautiful view of the valley below, though with lots of threatening clouds on the horizon.

I passed seven southbound hikers and no northbound hikers today. The trail continues to be practically void of hikers. And, it was bound to happen….I finally walked into a huge spider’s web and looked down to see a big one crawling up my chest. I instinctively grabbed my hat and swatted it off. Ugh! Something tells me this may not be the last time I have such an encounter.

After completing my hike, I had a fairly long walk to reach Burke’s Garden Hostel where I am staying tonight and tomorrow night. So far, I am the only person here. Empty trails, empty hostels, this really is turning into a lonely adventure!!! Tomorrow morning I will be driven to the northern point of my hike and will make my way back south to the hostel location. I’m doing that as it better fits my driver’s schedule for tomorrow. 

I did end up mailing about 2 pounds of items back home over the weekend, which doesn’t sound like a lot, but I was very glad to have done so when I was making my way up the mountains this afternoon. I decided to return the keyboard case that my iPad was in, but to hold on to my device.  Finally, just as I made it to the hostel this evening it began to rain. So, I believe,  it has now rained every day that I have been on the trail, and the forecast is more of the same tomorrow, though I believe the forecast calls for a return of nicer weather Wednesday through Friday.