[at-l] 6 years ago today (and a birthday?)

[TrailR at aol.com]

The first line of my journal today read:
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAN (Lite Shoe) !!!! 
 
So I will say it again.
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Lite Shoe !!!! 
 
Destination: Rock  Gap Shelter
Starting Location: Carter Gap Shelter

Had a crappy night's sleep, tossed and turned all night. I finally gave up  
and started breakfast at 6:30, hit the trail around 7:30. I’m hydrated, I had 
to  pee 4 times last night. Well, the first 4-5 miles today were easy, I hiked 
them  singing and talking to myself (yes, another day hiking by myself). Then 
I got to  Albert Mountain ( I thought), then I got to Albert Mountain again…
then I really  got to Albert Mountain (Oh My God!!). That is not a trail, its 
just white paint  blazed on the side of a cliff. Albert Mountain kicked my ass, 
I rested before I  started it (the real one), then I rested near the top 
(after tons of steps and  boulder scrambling) then I rested up on the lookout tower 
on top (great views,  but hazy). My knees are stiff and sore from all the 
climbs, and too many miles a  day (Celebrex, Advil, Tylenol, steroid shot = too 
many miles). Lookout tower  sign: “maximum capacity 2”… very reassuring… The 
rest of the afternoon (after I  called POG and told her Albert Mountain 
sucks!), I did slower, easier miles, to  try and be nice to my knees. I rolled into 
Rock Gap shelter around 3pm and  relaxed, ate and journaled. Slow Ride was 
there and two college kids on break  from Florida. I hear Bearkat and Wench went 
into town today, but I’m not pushing  it, tomorrow is soon enough. I’ll just 
hang my food on the bear cables and relax  awhile. Big deal of the day = 
passed the 100 mile mark !! The second largest  poplar tree in the USA is around ½ 
mile from here, going to check it our in the  morning, Then hike 3.5 miles and 
hitch to town. 10 people at the shelter now, a  full house, more fun for the 
mice. 3 of us are laying on the our sleeping bags  talking about food…(Beer, 
salads with everything on them, loads of ranch  dressing, cheeseburgers… 
anything but pasta). More tomorrow.
 
Hotdog
 
PS. This was the start of my permanent knee problems... Hiking on pills  
every day for the pain. Taking more to get to sleep, then more to stay asleep. I  
think it was worth it... Then I look back on all the things I can't do 
anymore,  and I'm not sure. But it was worth it at the time... And  a big part of it  
was who we were hiking for. Ted, Soleman, who could no longer do it  himself, 
but with a little help from"Pack 31" (3/1), could make it to Katahdin.  We 
still miss ya big guy!
 
Hotdog (who was going to use the trail name gimp... And still  may...).
AT03

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