Night Fifteen – NOC

We got into the NOC late and almost wasn’t able to get a room because they close a bit earlier in winter time. It was a sixteen mile day and I was beat from the down hill. Also, I appear to have lost my phone charger so although I had a completely full battery pack I had no way to charge my phone. Which had meant no pictures, no note taking for journaling, no checking in with family, and no ability to look up anything on Guthooks. We were able to get a bite at the restaurant there right before they closed and the waiter was nice enough to drive me to the gas station a mile up the road to see if they sold the charger I needed, but unfortunately they didn’t. I was super bummed out to say the least, and Mad Dog just kept telling me it wasn’t a big deal. After a few times of him saying that I finally just said it was a big deal to me and what he was saying wasn’t helping so please stop. Annoyed with me he went up to the common area. I was pulling my pack apart for the second time when Deacon knocked on the door to see if either of us had lost a phone. I told him we didn’t but some friends of Mad Dog’s had. Then I asked if by chance he might have a charger for my phone and amazingly enough he did. I thanked him a ton and gave him a big hug and told him he had made my night. I was able to call my parents and check in.

I think at this point both Mad Dog and I had had enough of each other but we were kinda stuck since we were in a room together. We took turns doing things out of the room, first him journaling and making some calls, then me taking a shower and hanging out in the bathroom next to the heater until my hair dried. I had offered to get the phone that belonged to one of the Honey Badgers at the general store because I knew he wouldn’t want to wait to start hiking and I needed to wait til the outfitter store opened so I could pick up some stuff before I got back on the trail.

At least I got a phone charge, a shower, and a place inside to sleep.