What a wonderful day! Up early and out of Elmer’s around 7:15, I climbed the steep cliffs overlooking the French broad river

The Jaybirds have had a name change. Robin is now Jaybird and Rob has accepted the name “Burning Boots” in the memory of the damage he inflicted on his, Jaybird’s and Green One’s Boots while trying to dry them near the fire that frigid night at Icewater Spring Shelter a week ago. I played tag with Jaybird & Burning Boots, stripping clothing as we warmed up and stopping to take picture as the sun rose on the river by Hot Springs.

We cruised through 11 miles and had lunch at a shelter when Green One and Rockhound caught up. They tend to get a later start most mornings. We had planned on staying at the shelter but continued on 4 more miles down a tortuously steep downhill until we found this site.

Having made great time, we played a bunch of games of chess and mancala (Green One has the chess pieces and drew game boards on his Thermarest.) We shared snacks and had dinner and hung out for 3 hours before bed. The current trail mix Melicca created included my favorite wasabi peanuts and dehydrated cantaloupe and is just awesome! For dinner Green One and I had some great Asian noodle soups my Mom & Dad sent with dried cod strips tossed in. Wonderful stuff, thanks Mom & Dad!

We start tomorrow with a 6-mile gradual climb to 4800 feet and walk along the ridge all day. Should be beautiful in the predicted 60 degree weather and there’s only one downhill at the end of the day to aggravate my shin splints. I saw a turkey today and got to hang out at a really pretty manmade bass pond.