Daily Log: Day 7

07 1789.4 6/21/2021 cloudy, frost, sunny and clear. Got on trail about 5:20 with my puffy and gloves on. Frost all over the tent made it cold and heavier. The scenic beauty is outstanding. Took pictures when I could. The trail is clear as expected with only a few blowdowns that you can walk around. Had to ford 6 or more streams, and creeks. One was mid-thigh deep. Another was over 100 feet across. By the time you get to the other side they are so cold that you can’t feel your feet. Before the deeper ones I moved my phone and InReach to my shirt pockets so don’t get wet. For each I extend my poles and cross facing the current. One step at a time. Side shuffle. Don’t want to fall. Place each foot. I was hiking 25-30 minutes per mile. I had lunch at 11:30 and was nearly done. I sat on a bluff and had my food. The breeze helped keep the mosquitoes away. I was done about 30 minutes later. The mosquitoes were swarming and I had been hiking with my bug net on. I put up my wettish tent and jumped inside with my pack. But it still took me 5-10 minutes to kill the 30-40 mosquitoes that came in with me. My tent is in the sun so I opened up my umbrella inside the tent for shade and to keep cooler. The little nasty mosquitoes are all pinned against the tent’s netting wanting to get me. I took off my wet shoes, socks, and gaiters and hung them to dry. Then I laid down and had a short nap. I’m done for the day at noon so I’m just killing time. I’ll meet up with Justin tomorrow for an on-trail resupply.

It’s cold. There is frost on the ground
Good morning sun
Mirror-like lakes
The natural beauty is captivating
Many water crossings – some narrow and thigh deep and others wider and shallower
Onward I hike wondering what’s around the next bend, or over the next hill
Glad for the netting on my tent to keep out the mosquitoes