Written on 7/9/08 - Wednesday
Today was really hard. Natalie dropped me off at the trail around 10, and I just started walking. It was quite a long hike today, but what made it hard was the fact that I thought I was on the wrong trail for about 3 miles. I stopped for lunch and called home, hoping for some reassurance. I got plenty from Leah, but I totally broke down after I hung up. This is the loneliest place I have ever been. I can hear other people's voices all the time, but I know that they're far away from me. I have to work really hard to not get depressed again like I did today. It was awful coming over each rise and hoping to see the sign I was looking for, but never seeing it show up. Finally I set my pack down so I could move faster, and walked ahead till I came across the split I was looking for. After that, it was an easy hike to my campsite, where I sit now, about to eat my supper.
There have been several problems already with things. There were no lockers at the airport, so I had to pack the duffel, which is far to bulky for a small pack like mine. And I forgot to bring ziploc bags to hold the food I am trying to split up over two day. But I improvised and figured it out. I've gotten my tent set up, water, wood for a fire, and I hung up my food sacks already. The only things that scare me here are getting hurt, getting lost, rain, and animals. I've taken the best precautions I can against all that, and all I can do now is rely on God to get me through this week. I've called home again now, and got to talk to Mom. I have found so much comfort in other people. Any type of connection I get, with the family or with the random people that walked through my site, I am already beginning to crave human interaction.
Besides all my fears and needs, it is absolutely beautiful here. It's really quiet, except for the birds, and the sound of water nearby. I think I'm going to start the fire and drink hot cocoa.
