Full Pack

For the past week I have been getting second helpings at all meals and trying to constantly eat to gain weight. My second biggest fear about not completing my AT thru hike is that I will lose too much weight and my body will eat my muscles. I weighed myself and my pack last Saturday I weighed 168 and I carried a 20lb pack. With a weeks worth of gorging I figured I'd probably gained a pound or two. Instead I have lost a pound and now weight 167. Today I'm carrying a 30lb pack and I can definetly feel the difference. This trail is very flat and follows highway 94, so its not very challenging or exciting. Half way through my hike I decided to get off the flat trail and take the more exciting lewis and clark trail. Bad idea!! With all of the melting snow the trail had turned to mud and was very challenging. To make the hike easier I started hiking off the trail on leaves to stop sinking in the mud. As I was walking amongst the loudly crunching leaves I heard a noise behind me and turned pointing my trekking poles ready to stab. Turns out it was a very frightened runner who had came up behind me silently on the trail. We both apologized but he was very frightned. Its good to know I'm ready for any hiking attackers!