Blog

Woke up relatively early to catch an amazing breakfast at the Holiday Inn.  With some possible afternoon showers, Numbers and Jazzy wanted to get an early start.  I had some errands to run before heading out.  Left town around eleven.  I saw a massive dark cloud coming directly at me.  I figured I’d call Twigg and see if he wanted to take another day off.  He was already a couple miles ahead of me.  On the road walk out of Grant’s, I passed by a state pen.  Realized that’s why I passed by a sign that said, ”   Please don’t pick up hitchhikers.”  By now the deathlike clouds had me surrounded.  A quarter mile from me I saw a white streaks falling to the ground.  I thought it was going to pummel me with rain.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.  Hail swept in so fast, I didn’t have rain gear on or a place to take shelter.  The hail stopped after I was able to get my rain gear.    The thunder and rain took its place.  Finished the road walk and headed up Mount Taylor.  Kept a solid pace to keep my body temp up.  After a couple miles the trail leveled out and the rain went away.  Caught some views looking back down at the town.  Clouds started rolling on so I posted up at the next spring.  Since rain was in the forecast all night, I figured I should try to fully set up my rain fly.  It wasn’t hard to set up at all.  For the first time in over a year and over 5,500 miles, I finally set my tent up correctly.  Yet it still didn’t keep the rain out.  I should of sealed the seams before hiking again this year and didn’t get to it.  Mostly leaked thru my zipper, which was where my head laid.  Wished my sister a Happy Birthday before passing out.