It’s thru hiker bedtime here – that’s 7:15 PM for all of you semi-normal folks. We’re tenting in a beautiful oak, rhododendron and moss glade and the temperature is now 19 degrees. Oh, yes – and the wind has decided to keep blowing, too!

I had a great hike day – my knee pain has diminished a bit and I spent much of the hike retraining myself how to stride normally. We made good time over Standing Indian Mountains – our highest peak at 5498 feet. I met a southbound thru hiker on the top by the name of Fooman. He and his hiking partner Bedpan are set to finish their 6-month winter thru hike in 4 or 5 days. They started in Maine last September with 60 lb. packs and hiked through the snow from southern Maine to Tennessee. Nice job, guys!

We’re tenting with the same crew again – Brian, Chris, Anna, Emily, Chris & Kim, and Anna’s dog Bo – He is a Siberian Husky mutt. Enjoyable company this afternoon. Emily’s doing a 2 week hike that’s part of a 3-year high school project – she is only a sophomore! She is out here with her older cousin Chris and their friend Kim, all section hiking.