May 24: Seeley-Woodsworth Shelter   Miles Today : 9.0 Total Miles : 259.0

As I look back on the sunrise this morning, I remembered that it was rather cold, and I was wearing my wind pants, and my spare socks on my hands as makeshift gloves. With that, I have officially used every piece of gear in my backpack. Looks like I have planned my load pretty well for this trip.

Since I only had nine miles to hike today, I decided to sleep in late on Cold Mountain. It was a sunny, warm morning and I just lied out in the grass and soaked up the rays. But as you know, I can only sit still so long, so I headed out sooner that I really needed to. The walk across the bald today was fantastic as I passed through several open fields with views in all directions. This is why I hike, for days like today. I wish that I could have hiked up here all day, but after just over a mile, the open ridge was over and it was back to the trees.

Much to my surprise, however, the very next mountain was a bald as well. Tar Jacket Ridge was actually less open that Cold Mountain, but more of the views were directly into the Jefferson National Forest rather than the valleys. It had gotten pretty warm by this time, the bugs were not bad, and I was in not rush, so I took a nap at a good viewpoint on Tar Jacket. This ridge walk lasted for about a mile as well, before it was back to the trees for good.

Later today, for the first time ever, I saw BLUE in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Just about all the ridges in the south are call Blue Ridge's or Blue Mountains, but until today I had never actually seen blue anywhere. Today, however, the blue was so strong and so deep that I actually thought that there was a body of water to the east of where I was walking. When I stopped and gazed through the trees, I realized that I was looking at another ridge, and that the blue was just bluring together as I was walking.

Well, I got here pretty early in the day, despite me goofing off as much as possible. I killed a lot of time reading, and then the hikers started to roll in. There is a pretty large crew here at this point, and more are staggering in by the minute almost. Ziti, Reader and Gypsy are the known hikers. In addition, Lion King, Trail Dancer, Achillies, and Grubber have rolled in. Turns out that most of the people here are looking to get to the Tye River tomorrow for the highly advertised party that Drive By is going to throw when he picks me up tomorrow. I just hope that he comes through!

On a personal note, I had a pretty depressing afternoon. I am just getting into great hiking shape and getting to know several thru-hikers out here. I said it before, this place just feels like home, and I am just getting comfortable with it again. I am very sad to have to say goodbye to it after tomorrow night.

So it is now 8:30, the rain has started once again, and I am lying in my tent. Why am I in my tent when there is a shelter right here, you ask? Well, the side of the shelter that I was on was going to be shared with three very large section hikers, and I just don't feel like being crowded in a shelter right now. Also, I have never really tested my Nomad Lite on a stormy night before, and since tomorrow is my last day I figured that this is a perfect opportunity. The thunder and lightning have now moved in, it could be a long night.

-Chomp

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