Day 21

Betty Creek Gap to Long Branch Shelter 5 Miles.  AT mile 102.4

Card of the day – Judgment

Last night was a Difficult night sleep with my side still giving me jip and my temperature being hard to regulate, I’m either to hot or to cold!  What I think is if I want to stay warm I have to synch my mummy bag all the way up, but I’m a twisty side sleeper!

The night was made more comfortable by knowing that my food was safe in a very new Bear Box!

When I was waiting for Kegstand and Underhill a Trail Ambassador was passing through and we got chatting.  She was off to collect an abandoned tent that a hiker had left who got shipped out with Nuro, with full HazMat suit to boot!  Imagine seeing that as you walk into the shelter!

What was good to hear was that she agreed we had done all we could to keep our food safe.  The bear has a name, Omar.

Any way we left camp around 10.00 and made our way up and over Albert Mountain, 2.5 miles with over 1200 ft gain.

Stairs, rocks, cut rocks character building!

The path was hard! And practically vertical in parts.  I don’t know how these trail maintainers do it.  They had built stairs and switchbacks and even what looked like chipped steps into the solid stone when that was the only way.  They are truly amazing.  There are pics over at the FB page for any one interested.

Any way, after much blood sweat and tears you make it to the top!  What an Epic view!!

I tried to climb the tower and failed at the first flight, like my dad said, he’s not that worried about me as I just won’t do any scary stuff!  I’m sure it was wonderful up there though!

100 miles!

I was kind of reminded of the Camino as we passed 3 different 100 mile markers!  Still I took a pic at the classic one on the fire tower!  Go me! 100 miles!

Any way coming off the mountain was easier than the climb up, it was a nice long green tunnel, more or less.

We got to camp early and were relaxing, just taking in the view.  Tomorrow we hit Franklin (again) to resupply for our push to the NOC.  We have plans with Slip and Slide and Chris and one of the people they have met to share a bunk there for a zero.

It was an easy evening with a camp fire and fellow hikers until one or two others turned up and changed the vibe, so the 3 of us just moved down to our tents, ate food and got an early night.  These things just happen some times.

After dinner we set up another good bag hang! Even if we do say so our selves!  This time the hard work was done by Kegstand, so I suppose at some point I’m going to have to throw that first line up!