I was excited to try out my new shoes. They were designed for thru hikers and had a lot more padding than the Lone Peak 6. I hoped they would be better.

The hike was nice that day, the difference in the shoes was immediately apparent. There were climbs and descents, but most of them were not severe. I finished the 11 miles without a lot of difficulty, I hiked alone nearly all day, occasionally passing other hikers going both northbound and southbound. Most spoke, we always wish each other a good hike. The people on the trail are almost all very considerate and kind. It’s pleasant to be surrounded by such friendly caring people.