Messenger Flatts to KOA

A relatively easy day today with no huge climbs. 

After six miles we came to the North Fork Ranger Station. They had fresh water, sodas and snickers for hikers. A welcome sight.

Hiked off and on today with a Nuts.

Really good guy from here in Southern California. I'm going to be better about getting more pics of the hikers we are with. I regretted not doing more of that on the AT. 

So, not to get too philosophical, but on this trail, you can see so far ahead. The trail far over on the next ridge, so you think you know exactly where you are going. But then, before you get there, there are all sorts of bends and curves and ups and downs, and eventually you end up at that point on the next ridge. Or sometimes you don't end up on that ridge at all, even though that's where you thought the trail was leading.  It's a little like life. And you just have to keep hiking to find out where the trail takes you.  

Climbed down to a campground with an elevation of about 2000 feet. Much warmer than where we've spent the last few nights. This is a pic Bee took of our tents the other night at Little Jimmy campground.

Brrr. Nice to be down a little lower tonight.

Never thought I'd be so excited about a KOA campground. 

Laundry, showers and pizza delivery.

Question for the day: How do you know when it's time to do your laundry?

Answer: 

A whole new level of filth 😜 (yes, this really happened )

I did a little more reading on the deserted buildings we hiked past yesterday high atop the mountain. From 1956- 1975 it was a Nike Missile Base. Then it became a fire fighting training facility for the California Correctional institution and could house over 100 inmates. The fire in 2009 was called the Station Fire and was set by an arsonist and burned over 160,000 acres. Unbelievably tragic on so many levels.