I woke up at 3:00 am in a panic, realizing that it was probably the worst idea in the world to sleep in an old, abandoned, moldy, mouse poop and dead fly infested hut. What was I thinking? This is how hikers get sick. I literally shook off 70 tiny mouse poops from the mattress I choose for a bed, thinking to myself, "Thoughen up Bloody Mary, this is what people do."

... No. They don't. The log book had two entries from this year, zero from the past 3 years and looked as though it was only regularly visited in the early 90s. A good refuge in case of emergency, sure.

You call yourself a professional hiker? Ha! You're carrying a custom made tent with 5 extra pounds of warm layers and you chose to sleep on poop for your first night of trial... might I add, first CLEAR night on trail? Honey, you better get your act together otherwise this is going to be one rough hike.

I'm learning. I really am. I was just so excited. I was trying to embrace the moment. I was feeling like an Icelandic Queen in her private little castle. ha Ha HA!