Woody Gap. Drying from the first storm at the trail angel’s house. My passport and other documents were wet as well, and, to save time, I asked the old lady to dry them with a hair drier, while I was bathing.

I actually was surviving this night. I did not like to set my tent on the rocky surface, but the whole bunch of people did, so I did. I wasn’t ready yet to stay away from the crowd. I slept, when a big storm came. Freezing water stayed in my bivi as it couldn’t go down through the rocks. I was laying in the water, I thought the rain would stop and it would be no need to leave the tent. Very dangerous thoughts. My legs were socked and already almost paralyzed when I forced myself to crawl out to the darkness under the heavy rain with no idea what to do. All others were sleeping in their tents. Their tents were much better than my bivi. At the beginning of April at night under the heavy rain in the mountains, the question is not how to warm up, but how to survive.

I remember the toilet, it was a concert and big. I am not sure what I would do if it was small and dirty, but it was clean like just build. I jumped and “ran” inside for three hours until everybody socked and woke up. Then everything got easier: phone calls, cars, trail angels.

Neels Gap, hikers hostel, shopping-re-shopping. I Left my stupid “big three” at the shop and bought a better “big three”. Regret a few days later. My “ugly” old backpack was really the only ultralight and small.

A big, big lesson.