Day 4: How Many Miles Do You Get When the Fuel Light Is On?

Starting Point: Gooch Mountain Shelter (15.8)

Ending Point: Lance Creek (23.9)

Total Miles: 8.1 miles

Steps: 22,041

Achievements: Epic Trail Magic

Maybe I should have talked less and ate more.  Eating a whole sharing size M&M's is completely appropriate for thru-hikers!

Just as the morning glow started there were the hissing sound of hikers opening the valves of their air mattresses.  The scramble to get up was on.  Jason is remarkably fast packer for a new hiker.  We got off early.

The day started with a brisk climb up Ramrock Mountain.  Okay, it wasn't brisk.  It was a brutal slog.  It was still raining hard.  The trail was either kitchen sponge or walking on toothpaste.  Jason is also out gas.  Wally started later and passed us.  As he has a bear canister, he'll hike on.  I'll probably never see him again.  He is a stronger hiker right now.

We reached Woody Gap and saw some canopies!  Trail Magic!  Good trail Magic.  One canopy had chairs around a portable campfire.  They were making egg McMuffins. Cheese.  Bacon.  Coffee.  So Good.

Needless to say, there was a pleasant pileup.  I had a great conversation with a triple crowner Joyride 

He is supporting Snack Sized.

Soon there were 20 people.  Jayson and I looked at each other.  This was our chance to escape and snag on of the four campsites.

We huffed and we puffed and we climbed up the Big Cedar Ledges.  Alas, this epic view was in the clouds.  We did do a better job of resting.  We reached the Lance Creek campsite.  Only one spot was taken.

So, I'm chilling in my tent, eating M&M's, carbing up to hike up Blood Mountain tomorrow.  Five miles 1,000 feet of climb.  We'll get to Neel's Gap, and take a zero.  Jayson knee hurts.  Nothing a shower, laundry, a pizza and some hamburgers cannot solve.