The night was good. I slept pretty well. I did hear some rustling around the tent through the woods during the night multiple times. My bet is on an Armadillo, but you never know. I had my sidearm resting by my head just in case the Armadillo become a Bear through some form of metamorphosis during the night. We had taken the time, just before we headed to bed for the night to secure our food high up in a tree via Bear Bag. We knew the food was safe, but we also knew that the smell would still be there traveling through the air seeking the nostrils of any hungry meat lover. The chances of us seeing a bear were good I thought. It was the time of the year when Bears were stocking up on anything and everything they could eat to prepare for their long winter nap so I am sure they were hunting.

Earlier

I had turned in early. I was very tired from the long trek. We had traveled 9 miles and I was done. My legs were jelly, my back was cramping and my mind was playing tricks on me, telling me I should hitchhike when we made it to the first public road and camp out at the car, waiting on the others to arrive. Yet, setup my tent, dawned my JetBoil Stash and filled it with water to boil for dinner, and drug my chair over to the fire the other guys have been so gracious to build. It was our home for the night. It was one of the first flat spots we had encountered on the Ozark Highlands Trail up to this point. The best part about it was there was a small area of standing water where we could filter and refill our bottles for the evening and the next morning before we set off. That was one of our biggest worries on this trip and this was very nice to camp beside water on the first night of the trip.

This time was so cool to me. This was the first time each one of us had unpacked their pack and brought forth the gear packed inside. Tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, food and more and more emerged with each reach inside of the large packs. “What did your pack weigh?” James asked Chad as he pulled out his tarp he was stringing up as an open makeshift shelter. “Around 23 lbs.” Chad stated as he bent one of the poles on his well-used Tarptent. I cringed as I was thinking I had been carrying around at least 10 more lbs. than either one of them had all day. John also had a Tarptent brand tent that caught my eye. It was an unusual design (they don’t make them anymore) and I was very interested. I inquired and listened intently as John explained he had this tent for many years. He had contacted the owner of the company, who subsequently shipped the tent to him to try out and see if he liked it. He did, shipped the loaner version back to the owner, and ordered one for himself. It was so much roomier than the tiny shelter I had carried around in my pack all day, yet so unlike the tarp James was setting up between two trees. Setups ranged from simplicity to complexity and comfort levels seem to ran the gamut depending upon what they were used to and what they were willing to stand.

My tent was easy to setup. I was unnerved at the onset when I realized I needed a few more strings to attach to stakes and a few more stakes in order to make it taught, as I had wanted. My trekking poles held up the ends and the ground was soft enough to push the stakes in the ground. So easy that it took no time at all. By this time, the water was boiling for the Mountain House Meal I had brought to satisfy my evening hunger. It was around 6:30 p.m. and I starved for calories. The meal bars and energy gummies that I had scarfed down on the trail were long gone by now. I was famished and really felt the exit of calories throughout the day. The Beef and Noodle “Whatever it was” was definitely about do its job to make me feel better. I plopped my rear down in my chair like an Elephant that had just crossed the Serengeti.

James came over and said, “you ever seen one of these?” as he popped out a little half pop can looking gadget. “Not sure that I have,” I replied with eagerness wanting to learn. The gear junkie in me was already in overload and I just could not get enough. He took out a bottle of clear liquid and poured in it. “That HEET or PGA?” John shouted from across the way. James gave him a smile and shot a little into his mouth, winking at John and shivering off a hard-core alcohol swallow. He took his lighter and lit the clear fluid. A small flame ensued. Moments later, my eyes popped out of my head in amazement at what looked like a jet engine was firing off in front of me. “I made that.” James said. “We used to have stove making parties at my house, and this is one I have had for around 15 years.” “I have to have one of those,” meant to be inside words but came out of my mouth faster than the liquid comes out after drinking out of my spit cup rather than my coffee cup. If only I had internet where we were at this moment. John came and sat down on a blow up cushion next to me. He brought out this stove that looked just like a beer can. In fact it was a beer can stove and I was again staring in amazement as he boiled water in it in less than 2 minutes. Pouring the boiling rehydration goodness into his Mountain House meal, we compared our choice of entrée for the evening. James was downing some instant potatoes and Chad was just pulling is water off his JetBoil.

The fire crackled and the night sky appeared. The stars were like the sand on the shores of the Ocean, so numerous there was no way to count. The Milky Way was so bright and evident there was no way to miss it. The brightest stars along with the dimmer ones lit up the night sky around us. The moon shone so bright we did not even need a headlamp to find our spot outside of camp to relieve ourselves. It was a magical night. Conversations and laughter rang out through the woodlands. We had not seen another person since we had left, but we had so much to talk about among ourselves. It was a good evening of listening to the talks about all that had taken place in their families since they had gotten together the last time, several years ago.

I could not be happier that I had brought my chair. We have a rule that you only bring necessities on the trip, but we allow one non-essential item. My item was my chair. As the other guys rolled logs over or piled up leaves to sit on, I sat here, legs stretched out and arms behind my head truly resting and giving my body a break. This Chair Zero from Helinox weighs one lb. and at this point, it was one lb. well worth it.

After an hour or so around the fire, I could feel my eyes getting heavy. My body was sore and craved the horizontal position inside my very small tent. I bid the gents goodnight and headed over to my little home area. I took out the Dude Wipes I had purchased for the trip and a new set of clothes out of my pack cubes. I took cover behind my tent (the other guys really did not want to see me naked…I don’t think) and stripped down to bare skin. I gave myself a good “whore bath” (as I call it), and then re-clothed myself with new attire that did not wreak of sweat and campfire. I repacked my pack with everything I had taken from it and organized each item I needed left out underneath the small awning of my tent. I blew up my new sleeping pad (Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm) and rested it on my sleeping bag I have had for 15 years. I placed my weapon inside along with a charger for the Garmin Inreach and my phone. I retrieved my water bottle, slammed two Advil PM along with a Z-Quil, and laid my head on my amazing little pillow. Within minutes, I was out. I do not remember much except the Armadillo/Bear rummaging around in the woods near my head, apparently wanting me to cast some lead in his direction.

The Next Morning

I woke up to sounds of conversation around the fire. I peeked out of my tent to see James and Chad standing around drinking coffee, speaking words and computer-programming phrases that made my head hurt. With no google dictionary at my helm, I decided to lay back down for just a minute and just rest a few before heading outside into the cold morning air. My sleeping bag was so comfortable, I was not willing to make a quick exit, but I was in a conundrum. The last thing I wanted was for the guys to have to wait on me. I had spent many afternoons at my home, packing and unpacking my pack, setting up my tent and taking it down and organizing everything. “Practice makes perfect!” my piano teacher (that I hated because I never practiced) always said. Funny how we change with age. My taste buds changed. My love for organization and living in a well-kept house has changed. My wardrobe has changed. My hobbies and whatever I want to do with my free time has changed. So here I am, crawling out of my tent, fully clothed, ready to get everything packed up and ready to go…but first, coffee.

I strolled over towards the fire and retrieve my food bag the other guys had already brought down from the bear bag contraption for me. It was screaming my name. I still feel as if the calories spent have not even come close to the intake so I fumble through my dehydrated meals. Peaches and Cream Oatmeal sounds amazing. I fire up the JetBoil and after a few moments, I am wandering over towards the other guys and the fire to enjoy my new morning ritual…learning more about Computer Programming, eating whatever hot breakfast I can find, and enjoying my coffee (BLACK! Black is the only way to drink coffee by the way). After filtering and refilling my water bottles, I grab my chair and head back to my temporary homestead.

Within minutes, I have everything laid out by my pack, ready for entrance and I am stuffing my tent into its tiny little stuff sack it calls home. Within a few more minutes, I am clicking the plastic clasps together on my Mystery Ranch Terraframe 65 and sitting it up in the fall leaves ready to go. John emerged from his tent. Apparently, I did not know that John was a late sleeper and known for being the last one up and the last one ready. The nickname “Gonzales” only applied to his rate of speed while on the trails. “You are packed up already? You’re pretty efficient!” James exclaimed as I made my way back over towards the fire. As I laughed, I proceeded to confess my previous statement to them about my fear of being a burden, and practicing to make perfect. I continued that I really enjoyed their company and wanted an invitation back on future endeavors. We all got a good laugh out of that as they all began to finish their coffee and pack up their own things, except John. He was just heating up his breakfast.

It was not long before we were slinging our packs on and heading east down the trail. We had about a mile to go to get to the highway. This was where we staged our bucket of water and charging station. I felt good. James had talked most of the day before about how difficult today would be, how tired and sore we would be. I was not looking forward to it, but it seemed as if the Advil had done the trick. My legs felt loose and ready for the day. There was a slight breeze and the sun show bright. I could not wait to see what today brought to us. It was going to be a good day.