After three days off-trail, I was both excited to get going again and nervous. I knew I would be climbing back up the CDT all day, plus rain was possible overnight. And I’d be at +10,000 feet of elevation (+3,048 m). Would my new Nemo work?
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Irish picked up the three hikers I’d met two days ago, then me. We got on trail around 8:40 a.m. One of the hikers, a young nurse, gave me some nonstick gauze pads and antibacterial gel for my arm. How nice!
Inching Up the Mountain
The trio said the path up wasn’t bad, and the first 5 or so miles (8.1 km) were amazing! The path wound very gently uphill, and it was mostly soft dirt. No big rocks or roots. Due to all of the rain of late, it was muddy and full of puddles, but no big deal.
At one point, I heard a strange animal sound. It was like a dog barking, but barking like a rooster’s “cock-a-doodle-do!” Was it a dog or … ?
Around 11:30 a.m. I reached a scenic spot called Photographer’s Point. I decided to have lunch there. Met four other hikers, two of whom had been behind me and asked if I’d heard that strange dog bark. So it wasn’t just my imagination!
Now on the Seneca Lake Trail
Halfway up the climb I segued onto the Seneca Lake Trail. Things got much more difficult here. Now there were steep uphills and downhills, and the trail was filled with rocks and roots. My pace slowed dramatically.
I kept meeting other hikers, which was fun. One duo, who I saw several times, was from Singapore (the guy) and Chicago (the girl). The woman said she comes to Madison a few 
times a year because she has a friend who works at Epic. Interesting!
Another group of guys helped adjust my bear vault, which suddenly kept tipping backwards, straining my shoulders. Ran into a bunch of men from Australia, including a paralympian snowboarder. When I was almost at the top, I ran into the woman from the outdoors store who sold me the Nemo!
Day Is Done
By the time I rejoined the CDT, I was exhausted from the climbing. I went another mile or so to get to a slightly lower elevation, plus a spot near water that had a good tent site.
I found just the spot, and have a lovely campsite tonight. I just hope it doesn’t rain!
Snowshoe
Today’s Miles: 11.2 (17.7 km)
CDT Miles to Date: 1,376.3 (2,214.9 km)
CDT Miles to Go: 1,723.7 (2,774 km)
