Bubbles Day 8 Our first Nero (near a zero day) (Monday, April 4th)

We got a later start today than we would have liked. It was cold and I sat in my sleeping bag until Robby peeled it off of me and gave me a good push to get ready. Jeff headed out before us (like always).  We had a short hike today (about 4.5 miles for the day.)

How I felt when I woke up today!!!

We hiked to Mary's Rock (3,514 feet).  It was only a tenth of a mile off of the trail.  We said we HAD to hike to it because our hike day was so short. It was the best decision we have made.  Mayhem told us to go check it out too. It was really a sight to see.  I recommend, to anyone who visits SNP, to check out Mary's Rock. We climbed to the top for photos and then sat there for a minute. It was projected to rain around noon so Robby wanted to get moving. I, on the other hand, would have sat there until it started raining!! It was unlike anywhere I have ever been.

Robby on Mary's Rock

We finished our hike three miles later at Pass Mountain Hut.  We got there so early in the day we didn't know what to do with all of our time!  I got water from the spring and washed some of my stinkier clothes.  It took a long time because I had to walk back and forth from the spring (to get water) to where I was washing my clothes. You don't want to wash clothes, dishes, or anything in or near the drinking water. Robby tied a rope up and we dried all of our clothes.

View on Mary's Rock

We had the shelter to ourselves for about five hours. Ten minutes after Jeff said, "We are going to have this shelter all to ourselves tonight," we got company!  We were excited about it. Birdman and Cornchips strolled up after they finished a 15 mile day!  We felt bad because all of our stuff was EVERYWHERE. We quickly made room for them and really enjoyed their company.

Next, Little Phoenix arrived.  Talk about an amazing woman! She had been out for nine days and it was her first time backpacking.  She is going to make it as far as she can in the next month and a half before she has to go back to school.  She told us she had to buy new boots because her feet swelled 3 sizes!  She is a great artist and I have enjoyed reading her entries in the shelter books. She is a SoBo (SouthBounder).

After Little Phoenix got settled in, and made dinner, Woody arrived, another SoBo. We didn't talk much but he seemed very nice and knowledgeable. I sat by the fire after everyone went to bed relaxing and smiled to myself, a lot. Where else in the world would I meet all these amazing people? Nowhere but out here on the AT!  

Me on top of Mary's Rock