August 27th
A damp cold night, drizzle and mist, no real rain but a very pervasive dampness. Inside the cozy cocoon of the tent and sleeping bag we are warm and dry. The thought of leaving that and launching outside into the misty morning keeps us inside until after 8am. Wicked passes by as we are getting ready, another victem of the lazy morning syndrome.
We walk among the dripping trees, the forest feeling very primeval. Mosses seem to almost come alive. A salamander in search of water waddles across the trail, out of his element, but only partly so. The sun pokes itself through the clouds, the first time he has visited us in almost a week. The clouds gradually clear and by late morning blue skies again dominate. The effect on our spirits is significant. It is so much nicer to walk without the threat of rain.
The trail crosses many dirt roads probably used for logging, most do not show on the map, nor are they mentioned in the guidebook. We pass by a couple of lakes with plenty of boaters and campers. We come across no other hikers for the rest of the day, but do see several bicyclists who are on side trails.
A cache of soft drink and candy bars left by the Friar at Wapinita Pass was a great caffeine and sugar “pick-me-up,” but the extra time we spent there means we crossed the road and only hiked in about 1/4 mile before finding a makeshift camp. A nearly full moon is rising. It’s nice to see the moon again after a week of hiding behind the clouds.
