8/24/02

8:45 am Spruce Lake lean-to:  Had a decent nights sleep last night.  Everything was just so perfect about this spot that I think I was a little wired by the time I hit the sack.  I tossed and turned a bit and read a lot of my book, actually finishing it.  It was 'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich' by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.  Not exactly your typical walk in the woods book, but I choose it because it was on my list of books I should read, and well, because it was small and thin - perfect to fit in the pack.  I was happy with the book - it was an easy read from cover to cover and kept me interested.  The story followed one single day in the life of a Russian political prisoner in the infamous gulag.  Unlike other books with similar themes, however, this one did not concentrate on the worst case scenario of a life in the camp... it instead made its point by showing the reader how a good day in the camps would play out.  The feeling this brings out is not one of despair and sorrow, but one of hope and optimism - and yet you never really lose track of how bad this life must have been.  I mean after all, if this was a good day, can you imagine what a bad one would be like?  I don't think it is too wild a statement to say that good literature and human themes can traverse generations and art.  But I must admit to feeling odd over this next reflection.... when thinking back about the book, I can't help but think of a popular rap song from a few years ago - 'Today Was a Good Day' by Ice-Cube.  In the song the artist is trying to show how bad things can be in the inner city, but he does so by showing what a 'good day' would look like.  I know, I know, Cube is not the person that usually comes to mind when discussing Russian political novels, but I think the common theme between the two in this instance is strong.

Anyway, I was a little amped up from my own good day and was having trouble sleeping until the loons just lulled me to unconsciousness.  In my dream state I thought I was hearing the howls of coyotes.  It is raining right now, pretty steady but I only have 6 miles planned out for the day - with an option for another 5 or 6.  I may sit tight and wait out the rain but I feel good this morning.

2:20 pm - South Lake:  I'm at the South lake lean-to right now, about a mile short of where I wanted to stay tonight but this is a very nice shelter right on the lake.  It poured all during the hike so I picked up only 5 miles or so.  I am soaked to the bone, every part of me - except my feet that is!  Viva la new boots, although I can tell they are stiff from not breaking them in and may cause problems later on.  The rain is actually not that bad to hike in - I mean once you get completely soaked you kind of get accustomed to it,  after all, once you are wet from head to ankle it is not like you can get more drenched.  You just accept it.  And I have found that I require less water on the trail when it rains, most likely because the old internal engine runs a bit cooler.  Also, and this is key, there are no BUGS.  So, yeah, I've gotta say - today was a pretty fun hike, not just in spite of the rain, but I think because of it.  Maybe I'm weird.

5:00 pm - South Lake:  Still raining.  This is an all day shower I guess.  decided to stay here instead of pushing on for a few more miles.  There is a mouse sharing this shelter with me, and he best be the kind of mouse that respects personal space.  I've been in lean-to's where the mice think your some kind of trampoline for them to bounce around on... usually leads to a sleepless night so I hope I have better luck here.  It is getting a  bit cold right now, may be a full zip kind of night in the ole sleeping bag.  The air is pretty damp and my gear is not drying out very fast... but there is a nice fog coming up off of the lake and into the mountains.  This is a very pretty place, I hope I get to see it in the sun tomorrow.  

7:50 pm - South Lake:  Rain is finally letting up.  I managed a small fire with some paper garbage and a dry white birch bark.  Only lasted 20 minutes or so but managed to warm me.  Sky still very overcast.