The night was full of mice and bats, while the morning was full of wasps. I guess every shelter has its downsides. This morning in particular was very slow and laborious. I got up first, but that wasn't until 9:15am. I followed the water trail to refill, which let me enjoy a beautiful short morning hike. This trail led me past a dilapidated little cabin with a collapsed ceiling, as well as the remains of a rather large cabin, covered in vines with just the stone chimney still standing. Then back for breakfast!
By 11am I finally made it out of the shelter and back up to the trail. Late nights take their toll, that's for sure. I took a break to enjoy a moment of 3G when I got up to the ridge line, but then had to continue on over some challenging rocky bits. Just as I got through them and started a long descent, Mr. Fantastic caught up with me. We both decided to take our lunch at the next shelter.
Magic Lungs was enjoying the privy when we arrived, and then Voodoo joined us. We all ate and enjoyed the nice weather. It was almost a little too nice, because I didn't want to leave to walk the 10 miles between my next campsite and me.
Once started those were a great 10 miles to hike. There was a steep 2 mile hike, but the trail was so smooth in its ascent and clear of any rocks or roots that it was a joy to climb. At its summit I came to the Audie Murphy Monument, which was impressive to see.
After walking along the ridge for a few miles I began a switchbacking descent alongside a beautiful sunset. I could see into a valley between two parallel running mountains, which made it hard to look away to make sure I didn't walk off a cliff. Watching foot placement is key when the ground drops a few hundred feet to one side.
Just a mile before the shelter I met up with some other thru-hikers that were doing the trail all out of order and slack-packing. The gentleman asked if I wanted cake, and handed me some chocolate cake wrapped in plastic. If a beautiful sunset didn't make my hike today, that certainly did.
I finally came to the secluded shelter at 8:30pm, just as it was getting dark. Strangely enough there was no one else at this shelter either; it really seems like the number of people on the trail has significantly dropped. Another night of eating with a headlamp on was ahead of me. I started to get nervous that Mr. Fantastic had stopped short on his hike, but he came in at 9:30pm sporting his own headlamp and clacking his trekking poles.
Our plan for tomorrow is currently evolving a little as we go. It seems like we'll get to the hostel early, shower and launder, continue down the trail, resupply, then go to a shelter a few miles more on. It'll be a work in progress as we find out which hurdles are where. It's still another late night, but I'm getting to sleep 2 hours earlier tonight than last. By tomorrow we should be back on a "normal" schedule.
