Risks
Day 10 of the Trail: 7.6 miles hiked
We were lucky enough to be camped on the calm side of the mountain this morning. The air was cold, but still, and that makes a difference.
Life is a game of risk. We take chances all the time and hope they pay off. The risk me and Thomas take is calculated though. We pay attention to the weather so we know if it's safe to cowboy camp or not.
Every time we hike in the dark there is a risk. With little moonlight and only our headlamps to light the way much of the trail detail is lost. We constantly trip on roots, rocks, and whatever kind of trail monster grabs our toe as we step. We are running the risk of twisting an ankle, falling, stepping off the side of the trail and who knows what else. Leaving early allows us more time to cover more distance at a slower and safer pace. Longer distances are harder on the body but also set us up for regular "nero" or even zero days which are godsends to the body.
Thomas took the risk of reserving is a room at a nice hotel and it paid off big.
