Last night was forecast to be the coldest of the trip. After the previous night’s unexpected 27°F temps, I wrapped up warm in multiple layers before going to bed. I was toasty! And so I should have been, the low was around 44°F.
It was a very windy but also pretty night, with multiple satellites and a shooting star to keep me amused.
The morning’s news on my left foot was not so good. My toe and foot were swollen. It looked and felt remarkably like gout. I’ve not touched an alcoholic drink in weeks — I later learned that a high protein diet can also bring on gout, and my diet is definitely high protein.
The sensible course of action would be to take the shorter South Loop trail back to the trailhead. But where’s the fun in that? I decided to stick with the plan and take the couple of miles longer and more rugged North Loop via the Shortcut. I’ve hobbled hiked ten plus miles with a splinter in my foot before, I could cope bit of pain, and it wasn’t going to do me any harm. The plaster on my heel should stop my other injury from hurting too much. Yeah, probably not.
Copyright © 2025 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.