I am really tired. The three other guys in the shelter fell asleep while I was still shoveling food down my gullet. That was ½ hour ago. Now I am in my bag, toasty warm, watching the 400 lb. bear with its front paws on the picnic table, 10 feet away. That is the beauty of 3 sided shelters—the wildlife can snuffle at the picnic tables while the exhausted hikers sleep, hoping to see a bear sometime the next day. The irony kills me. The fact that there are 3 hikers sleeping between me and the bear is reassurance that the bear will not kill me.

I call out “hey guys – are you awake?” and the bear takes 3-4 quick steps away. But he returns when only snores answer my inquiry. Five feet from the bear, a hiker from Switzerland named ‘Ursus the Bear’ is sleeping. Ursus was telling me an hour earlier that he’s yet to see a bear. I wish I could reach my camera! I shine my headlamp at the bear and he ignores me, so I ignore him back, roll over, and fall asleep. I’m so tired.

28.3 miles today. I’m hoping that will be my longest day on the trail! It’s the distance between the shelters and my planned 4pm pick up from my parents tomorrow that forced this mild insanity. Luckily I ran into Pooner at the 11 mile mark. Good conversation with him, especially about volleyball and ultimate frisbee, made the miles slide by. Pooner told me the bird I saw yesterday was probably an indigo bunting—sounds good to me!

Only 10 miles left in the park. It feels strange to walk through a 100+ mile national park in 5 days. But the trail’s been enjoyable and the support from my brother and family has kept my food bag light and my steps easy.

Also the at the shelter is Keystone Sargent, a 70-ish man from PA out for a 300 mile walk. It is great to see the older crew and always an inspiration to me, especially when I’m feeling tired.

Mom and Dad have been sending me care packages throughout the hike and I am really looking forward to seeing them tomorrow. Only 14 miles? I’m sleeping in!