The walls we construct around ourselves to give us a sense of safety are illusory. We are not fully safe anywhere. I was worried today about the weather, of course. Hypothermia is a huge fear of mine - I am somewhat justified in this - but with the right gear and a little know-how, it can be prevented. But even though you have a house around you with warm blankets and central heat, you are no less endangered from the hand of fate, of it's going to get you. The most dangerous part of this trip so far was the car ride into Baxter State Park, when a buy in an Audi came screaming around a corner, on a little windy 2-lane road, nearly losing control and fishtailing into us. "That was the more dangerous than anything you'll encounter on the trail," Scott observed, after we all started breathing again. He was probably right. We're in the shelter now, Hurd Brook, ate some dinner - dehydrated squash and beans and pasta I made a couple of months ago. It was good. We warmed up - Dana's bag isn't warm enough, but we're making due. I have a down jacket and a super-warm bag (15 degree Marmot). The hiking today was pretty inconsequential, actually a pretty goo day to hike through the woods on relatively flat ground; rainy but no views to be had anyway. We did see a huge tortoise. Meeting some cool people; Jack, Kaleigh and her dad Brian, and me and Dana are in the shelter and warming up. Rain is letting up, it's supposed to rain tomorrow too, so we're going to get some sleep!
Steady rain. 60's. 13.4 miles.
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