Day 69: Happy Feet

From Disappearing Creek mile 1508.6 to Porcupine Lake mile 1528.8

The morning started with a climb of about 3,000 feet (about 4,000 for the day).  Thankfully most of it was not in direct sun as the next mountain blocked the sun for a period and then the trail went to the west side of the mountain.

Around noon I realized that I had not been thinking about my feet…they were not in pain!  I had happy feet and it made all the difference in my attitude.   I have not written about this but my foot problems had me thinking about quitting this hike.  It is hard to enjoy hiking when every step hurts.  I expect some of that in the first month but not now.

My feet have been improving for the past couple of days.  By the end of the day I was certainly feeling them but it was not nearly as bad as it has been.  I am continuing to tape them each morning, change socks every 3 hours and air them out to dry as often as possible.

The area I am in is spectacular.  Steep mountains, many with rocky crag tops.  Small lakes, like the one I am camped on.  A mix of dense pine forest, sparse pine forest and scrubby brush higher up.

When I got here there was one guy camped further around the lake so I stayed as far from him as possible.  I can not see or hear him.  Now, at 8pm, a hiker rolls in and without even looking around pitches camp right beside me.  Trail etiquette isn’t what it used to be.