ET's Info-Stew

08:25: Well, we're leaving today. We should probably be on the trail by 10 AM or so. Last night, we tied up the food really late in the dark. By then Mr. Cleek had had to finish off A LOT of peppermint snopps. We started tying up the food and all the ropes got tangled up. Ropes were criss-crossing everywhere. I dropped my rope off the rock and when I went to get it, Mr. Cleek pulled on the rope and I jumped. He was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe. Then I started laughing and I couldn't breathe. This type of stuff went on for twenty minutes before we finally got the food up. It was the hardest I laughed in a long time. Well I better get my stuff packed. This is my last message from camp.

12:58: Well, we made it back to the car alive despite the circumstances. About 1 ½ miles into the trail, we saw talked and walked with a couple, Randy and Penny. We walked with them a mile or so until Loon Lake came into view. When they stopped to take a break, we headed on. About ¼ mile further, Mr. Cleek started to quicken his pace and I fell behind keeping the same pace. Well, at one place, I came off the trail and when I got back up to it, Mr. Cleek was waiting for me because he knew I might miss there. Then a mile later, he started saying that the blisters on his heel hurt and that was why he was going so fast. I don't know why he really sped up but I knew I couldn't keep that pace. All I know is that I was tired but wasn't able to stop because he would get way ahead of me. With only a quarter mile left on the trail, the trail split. I took the left trail and he called me back (I was ahead at the time) to take the right path. I remember last time we had to take the right trail. We eventually got to the campground area which is way far away from the car. I (and he probably as well) truthfully thought it would be faster than taking the left path, but we were both wrong, I'm sure. All I know is that I am very worn out because I didn't take a break the whole hike back. Right now, my shoulders are killing me. Jenny has to give me a neck rub when I get home. This trip has been very, very though on me physically and mentally. But it was worth it. Next year, I'm going to start training early in the year so I can hike better.