Walking with Spring
Started reading Walking with Spring by the first thruhiker, Earl Shafer. Bought it in D-town. What a very different solo experience 1948 was. He didn't have the social environment we have, nor the modern gear, the resources, the well-maintained Trail. He was getting over the war. Akin to Getoverit, who hasn't talked much about his Desert Storm stuff. Hinted at a few things, but his trail name is what he's working on. A buried impetus for my hike is to 'getoverit' for not finishing grad school, for several failed relationships I thought had legs, the stagnation of my work, to move ahead. Once his hike was under way, Earl lived in the 'Now' of it. Exploring that perspective would be a valuable trail lesson, particularly off-trail.
By late afternoon, the few parts of my feet with feeling were barking pretty loud. Spankos are a lousy product, and not too impressed with the Thorlo socks as I had hoped - may go back to Wigwam.
Ran into Fox lunching on the north side of the ponies. Teased him about whatever he was eating, boy did it smell badly. He said he noticed that, too, but it wasn't his lunch. He and I had been talking in NC about his need to get off trail for a few days, family matters. I told him we'd figure out how he could get up with my roomies to borrow the truck for his roadtrip. Somewhere around the 27th-28th.
Got up to hike on, and just other side of the clump of trees from Fox was an expired pony well into decomp. Ah, so it wasn't his lunch after all.
Hiked up to the Old Orchard Shelter. Had a nap and a late dinner before the sun got too low. Then ventured up to here Iron Mountain. No water, just a clearing off trail Now, in the twilight, I can barely see. I am burritoed near FM2 and Baglady for the night in a glen. 17.1 miles today. Wouldn't mind having my tent back. The pack weight without the food sack is 22 pounds dry. Add in water, fuel and food and I'm up to 40. Sent the Tevas home in D-town for cheap flipflops. Yes, I still hike in a cotton T. Yes, cotton kills. The polypro is just, so, less comfy. A silk shirt -- THAT would rock. I like this struggle. Can I persevere?