The reality of the trail has hit...

Mr Happy was huffing and puffing his way to the top of Big Cedar Mountain (3,737 ft) this morning. He spend a cold night at Gooch Mountain Shelter last night (again accompanied by Zero) after completing another 7.6 mile day yesterday. He arrived at Gooch Mountain around noon but elected to stay there rather than push on. He prefers to stay in shelters than to tent and so is planning his days accordingly. Today he hopes he might be able to make it to Neels Gap where he can spend a night in the Walasi-Yi hostel which is right on the trail but that will mean a 16.1 mile day today to make it there. If he doesn't get that far he may stop at the Woods Hole Shelter which will make today a 12.4 mile day. Either way he plans to make use of a real bed, a real toilet, and some real food when he gets to Neels Gap. I guess those of us who have never attempted a long distance hike don't fully understand what the reality of it is - being tired, eating relatively unappealing food, pooping in the woods, sleeping on hard shelter floors with mice crawling over you, and being very alone most of the time. If you read this leave a comment of support and I'll pass it on to Mr Happy when we next touch base.

21 miles down -2,154 to go.