Sunday, July 7, 2019 - The “Big Climb” 12.2 miles, Grizzly Creek (1751.1) to South Brown Mountain Shelter (1763.3) Ascent - 2082’, Descent - 1250’

I took a Benadryl last night to see if it would help me sleep. It did. I did not wake between 8:30pm and 4:45am. Solid, sound sleep even though Ed got out of the tent at 12:30am to pee. Because there is no caffeine in my diet, I have been able to make it through a nine hour night without needing to pee. Ha!  So much for older men and their bladders!  

We started getting out of the tent at 5:00am. I had my usual granola and milk for breakfast as I packed and we were on the trail by 5:45am this morning. From Grizzly creek the trail climbs 1762’ over 6 miles. It was the most gentle grade I can remember experiencing. We talked away the morning and got into politics about the time we reached the pipe spring. We took on a bit more water, although looking back I don’t see why. I have been carrying too much water for the conditions. Although it is brilliantly sunny, the air is wonderfully cool. That coolness combined with Ed’s reasonable pace means I don’t really sweat. For the entire 12 miles we covered today I consumed less than a liter. I made the same over cautious blunder last year at the beginning- carrying too much water for the conditions. There was water three times along the trail today. I could have gone without water and only drank at the watering holes, lightening my pack by 5 pounds. Note to self:  remember that next time. 

We got to The South Brown Mountain Shelter about 1:25pm. We walked into the shelter (300’) to the west of the trail) and found a small log shelter and a cement pad with a hand operated pump rising from it. While Ed checked out the surrounding area I messed around with the pump. The handle was missing, so I had to military press the sleeve of pipe that was the pump mechanism. It worked if you did two quick lifts in succession, the first to “prime” the pump, the second to bring the water. 

I walked back to the trail junction to watch over our packs until Ed returned from his campsite scouting expedition. Once back, we walked back to the shelter, filled up with water and headed for our campsite. Tent pitched, I cooked the second half of last night’s dinner for a late lunch, blogged and just enjoyed the afternoon.