The only time I’ve been afraid out here is when I have to cross a highway. Again last night it was on a hill or a blind curve. All I need is to walk a hundred miles and get run over by a truck! Haven’t looked at the thermometer yet, but with the clear skies last night, I know it was at least freezing. Then about 6:00 a.m., it did sleet/snow for about 30 minutes. I’m still in my sleeping bag being lazy and toasty warm. Really just laying here trying to select what to wear today from my large wardrobe. Think I’ll start in the fleece and change later if it warms up. I get so hot when I hike that I usually end up in shorts and a t-shirt. But it is much colder today. I sure like my ultralight thermarest. May be a few more ounces, but it’s much more comfortable. Tumbleweed is trading in his Ridgerest at the NOC for one like mine. Gore-Tex – let me just say that you can spend hundreds of dollars on Gore-Tex jackets that are "breathable," but I promise you they do not breathe when you’re backpacking. Nice for standing around in. I’m sending mine home as soon as I get my other jacket sent to me. Keep thinking if I lay here just a few more minutes, the wind will dry my tent off. Okay, drag the warm body out of the warm bag into the cold, windy world. Think I’ll have some hot chocolate and the other half of my lemon pie for breakfast.

My tent has a groovy little window and when I was lying on my back this morning, it was really cool to watch the tall poplar trees sway way high above me. These are tall skinny trees that really don’t have a lot of branches til near the top. And there are two woodpeckers (I guess … sounds like it anyway) making their own little symphony this morning. I still can’t believe God has put me here in this special place, but I’m sure glad and thankful to be here!

This is so COOL! The drops on the tent I was waiting for the wind to blow off are ICE! It’s SNOWING! Small, fine flakes, but it’s snowing real live snow! The other guy (Linx) who was camped here, was not as excited as I was about the snow. Guess what else? Polypro gloves melt when you pick up the hot chocolate cup. I now have semi fingerless gloves! Okay, I told you about trial and error. I had my cup of water directly on the stove with the lid to my pot over it. Had my bandana right there but didn’t think it was that hot yet when I reached to take the lid off. Good news is the gloves melted on the lid of my titanium pot and not on my skin!

Hope this snow doesn’t turn into rain. Mother Nature is magnificent! She must have gotten tickled at my joy and amusement with the little snowflakes so decided to send lots of big ones! Within twenty minutes, the whole forest was white. Then I got to one spot where there wasn’t as much snow and for about 100 yards it was so incredible. Bazillions of little spider webs near the ground had caught the snow – webs you would never, ever know were there except for the silhouette of the snow. Breathtaking.

Big Bird and Ladyhawk passed by as I was packing up this morning. Jiff and Manchester weren’t very far behind. They were glad to see me. I hiked with them to Silver Bald Shelter and we had hot chocolate and tried to get warm. A bad thing happened when I was there. I lost my t.p. in the snow. Jiff game me some of hers. I went back and looked for it but couldn’t find it. There was a brave little mouse at the shelter – during the day – which is why I still haven’t slept in one yet. The next shelter is pretty far away. I got here about 3:30 p.m. and looked at the map and was afraid I’d get stuck up on the next mountain and not make it down before dark. Not a good thing in the wind and snow. I don’t know how safe this picnic area is, but I’m staying here and hoping I don’t freeze. There’s a porta-potty nearby. Guess if I get desperate, I can spend the night in there. I fixed a big pot of noodles and ate it. How cold was it today? Cold enough that my water froze in my drinking tube. Cold enough that when I took my pack off, it made steam. I’m jumping around, but the other guys decided to all stay in town again today. I slept so good last night, but tonight will probably be a very long night. This is perfect hypothermic weather. I’ve got dry clothes on, but it’s still cold. Hope Jiff and Manchester make it to the next shelter.

Mother Nature is also very humbling. Who would have thought … shorts and suntan lotion one day and catching snowflakes on my tongue the next?

There’s a saying that goes something like "There’s only six feet difference in a rut and a grave." I’ve decided that’s what is so refreshing about the young people out here. As we get older, we seem to get in ruts and not even realize it. These kids are intelligent and responsible – yet they’re not afraid to break the molds society puts on them. Good for them! They are a good example for me.

Well, another guy from Florida and a couple from Pennsylvania stopped here. I wasn’t the only wise one to stop and not commit to get over those next two balds today. Oh, our first "bald" today! Silver Bald is 5,219 feet. No trees on top. Awesome 360 degree view. It pays to be slow sometimes. Sometimes the faster people get fog or rain and no view. Jiff, Manchester, and I dropped our packs and went to the top. It was cold and windy, so we didn’t stay long. Oh, one more thing … Mother Nature also threw in some icicles at the springs for me. I got all excited. Manchester just rolled his eyes. But they were pretty..

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