There are times in our lives when things happen that make us move at a faster pace . . . today was that kind of day for Turtle and Navigator . . . the skies opened and rain poured down. As the rain poured the guys picked up their pace! They covered about nine miles by lunch time! Remember . . . yesterday it took most of the day to hike 9.9 miles!
After lunch they were headed into the part of the trail known as the Roller Coaster. Ben explained that the trail has a series of 10 ascents and descents that would last about the next 13.5 miles. The Hiker’s Companion describes this part of the trail as narrow, viewless and rocky ridges. Now doesn’t that sound like paradise? The reality is . . . trekking poles will save them from falling and twisting their knees and ankles. The poles also are used to drag their tired bodies step by step.
Good news - the stuff they are carrying seems to be staying dry thanks to the pack covers. But you guessed it . . . their clothes and boots are a different story. They wear clothing that should dry quickly if given a chance. After hiking all day with wet stuff on they do their best to hang their clothes at night to let them dry. Hiking socks never dry completely once they get wet. Dale said that his feet were all ‘pruned up’ when he took his boots off. He tried to sleep outside of his sleeping bag for several hours to give his feet time to dry during the night!
OK . . . I have really tried to write this as an informative journal . . . but really . . . aren’t you wondering why they keep doing this????? The only answer I can come up with is never ever give up on your dream, even if it means hiking through some nasty stuff!
15.3 miles today – 137.8 miles completed
1 comment:
Dick's Dome...
I have to think of my Father-in-law, Dick, who is bald.
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