Wed Jun 11, 2014 @ 17:54

Day 73 - BRP 95.3 to Bryant Ridge Shelter

15.9 miles

Had an eventful night (thunderstorms) and started hiking around 8am this morning.

Crossed the BRP a couple times today. Had long talks with Tenacious Bling about her hike struggles - lack of fashion, her expectations, and dealing with boredom. Not sure how much "stuck, but it will something she has to work through.

Took a long breakfast break at Bobblets Gap Shelter and met a college Herpetology class at Bearwallow Gap. Our son does herpetology everyday. I had a long chat with a young man teaching at a private school in the fall and it got my Educational philosophy and practice juices flowing and I spent the next hour or so discussing high school curriculum with the family and then about the coming school year and eventually homeschool graduation in our home. This train of thought occupied me for a couple hours.

Did a 500 ft elevation climb up Cove Mountain, was rewarded with some open views at the top. Hiked 750 ft elevation down to Cove Mountain Shelter, passed that, hiked the ridge, and then down another 1,000 ft elevation to Jennings Creek.

Spent an hour or so swimming, washing and eating. Exactly the way a summer backpacking day should be.

Hiked 1,000 ft elevation up to Fork Mountain and down another 750 ft.

Tonight we're camping at Bryant Shelter. Celine and Laurent are sleeping in the shelter and @toesalad, Tenacious Bling and I are camping by the stream, along the AT. The shelter is beautiful, probably the nicest on the whole trail, but I prefer the privacy of tenting.

Thunderstorms have been passing through this evening with intermittent rain. The fireflies are out on the hillside and it's magical beyond belief. And when I look to the shelter the path is also a twinkle of lights. It's amazing and reminds me of the fairy books I read to the kids when they were little.

I miss the kids tonight and with the storm I wonder how they're doing, but at 13 and 15 they're fine in the shelter (with strangers - only on the trail).