I woke to slightly warmer temperatures. Again my sleep was fitful, my sleeping pad was uncomfortable, too narrow for my shoulders. I decided I would change it out at Mountain Crossings in a couple of days. For now I would have to make it work for a couple more days. I dressed in my damp clothes and wet shoes and packed up my tent and the rest of my gear. I went to the shelter and had breakfast with some of the other hikers. We commiserated about the past two days. I ate a good breakfast for the first time since I started, by good I mean I ate a peanut butter sandwich using strawberry pop tarts instead of bread. The weather was already warmer, it promised to warm up into the 60’s. My spirits lifted as I started down the trail with two other hikers toward Gooch Mountain Shelter. Already I could tell it was going to be a better day. Adam, Wes, and I, had roughly the same pace, so we hiked about 50 to a 100 yards apart. We took breaks together, filtered water together, and ate lunch together. The trail was steep and taxing, but our spirits soared.

The weather was warm, the clouds lifted, and we made good progress. We arrived to Gooch Mountain Shelter in mid afternoon. We met Jimmy and Emily at the shelter, other hikers we had met at Hawk Mountain slowly trickled into camp. We were excited by the better weather, we spent time at the shelter, talking and eating our rehydrated evening meals. Everyone hobbled around on sore legs. Our spirits soared.

Quinton’s parents were supposedly doing trail magic about a mile and a half past the shelter at Gooch Gap. Trail magic is when people called “Trail Angels” provide food, drinks, and other small comforts at their own expense, to hikers along the trail. It is relished and deeply appreciated by hikers. There’ nothing better than coming around a bend of the trail to see coolers and water bottles left by Trail Angels. We looked forward to our first Trail Magic.

The night was warm and I slept a little better that night. For the first time I wasn’t cold. I looked forward to the morning.