"A Penny a Mile" for the United Plant Savers

Below are TMello's latest trail encounters... Really amazing observations, seems like the trail really provides the perspective that we lose in regards to the natural world... when we get caught up in our daily grind. Thanks Ted for sharing a window into the trail and all its inhabitants.... Happy Trails.. Susan Leopold, ED of UpS....

my evenings consist of simmering either rice, polenta, quinoa, or noodles on a tiny alcohol stove while logging in the journal and planning next day's hike. i thought walt whitman's "Leaves of Grass" would be an appropriate companion, but haven't really found time to read from it yet. Too busy studying elevation charts for the challenge ahead. Someone is leaving chapters of lord of the rings at each of the shelters, just don't have time right now to read. will probably find this time later on as the evenings lengthen.

I have been somewhat social but I did spend 4th of july alone in potawaydjo leanto. sharing shelter with snoring neighbors, i need earplugs and bug netting. not carrying a tent saves 4 pounds in my pack, so I've been relying on shelters mostly. I do carry an emergency-home-made-on-paula's-sewing-machine-tarp made of lightweight tyvek housewrap. Got to try it for the first time during a 6-7:30pm thundershower overhead; the sky still light this far north until 9:45, so packed up after tarp nap and watched the starry dome open up during an intense night hike with headlamp. the milky way is thick and creamy; raw unpasturized. waxing halfmoon below horizon early night so good conditions for stargazing, but more importantly no light pollution. biggest day was 20 miles. two sometimes three cold water swims a day to cool down and escape mosquito swarm. black flies not too bad knock-on-wood. this flattness and cleanliness will not last for long, so am enjoying it while I can. only way to enjoy nakedness without insect bites is in cold stream with airways just above waterlevel. plenty of beautiful mountain springs to drink from and soak sore feet. I never heard vehiclular noise for 6 days, but I did hear some fireworks in the distance. god bless america! low distant droning noise of early sunrise logging equipment for pulpwood industry.