Decisions, Decisions (Day 3) – The Trek

Another good night’s sleep at Gooch Mountain Shelter. I woke up warm in my tent around 7 a.m. Over breakfast and coffee, many of the hikers finalized their mileage plans for the day. The previous night there had been much discussion about the logistics of the next two camps.

The great debate

If we chose to hike 8.1 miles from Gooch Mountain Shelter to Lance Creek Campground, then we would end the night with a reliable water source, but we would be 7.4 miles from our resupply the next day at Mountain Crossings in Neel Gap. There was also the option to walk 10.5 miles from Gooch to Jarrard Gap. This would get us closer to Mountain Crossings, but we had heard conflicting information from ridge runners, trail angels, and hikers about whether there was a reliable water source. Some hikers didn’t want to sleep in what could be a dry camp, while others wanted to prioritize a shorter hike to resupply the next morning.

Late in the afternoon I arrived at Lance Creek and decided to ride the camel and boil some water to make grits. I didn’t want to cook anything later in the evening so I could save all the water to drink. A couple more hikers did the same and we saw a big black rat slithering around while we were sitting on logs eating. We talked about the Winter Olympics and the religions we grew up with. Two of the hikers chose to camp there, although there were danger signs in the trees that made me nervous.

my decision

I continued on to Jarrard Gap, even without the promise of reliable water. There were another two miles down the trail, but most of the group I was hiking with did the same. Turns out there was a small supply of water, although I didn’t need it after filling it up during preparation. I relaxed in my tent at night because it seemed a little colder than usual. I got up briefly to hang up my Ursack for the first time, as there were no bear boxes or cables.

I spent time at camp thinking about our first resupply tomorrow at Mountain Crossings. I would like to stay at your hostel, although I’m not sure there is room for me. If not, then I guess I’ll pay for a shower and laundry and camp outside. Either way, I’m trying not to stress out.

Injury tracker

I think my hip is about 80% better. My whole body still hurts and my right Achilles tendon is tender for the first time. I told Reflector (name of an older lady I was hiking with, who I gave my first bullet to) that I think the lesions are coming out of my body. I hope I’m right!

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