SKUNK!

   Someone put some heavy plastic over the front of the shelter at Ice Water Springs. It didn't block out all of the air, but it did keep out the wind. The fire in the fireplace was toasty and warm. All the sleeping spaces were taken, so I had to take a spot on the ground just inside the chain link protective fence (still technically in the shelter, but just barely). As I drifted off to sleep I was thankful for the warmth. I slept peacefully, dreaming pleasant dreams until a noise woke me up.
   Was that a knawing sound I heard? It sounded too loud to be a mouse, what was it? The embers of the fire shed enough light for me to see something white, or was it black....wait a minute....it was both white and black. It was too big to be a mouse or even a rat, but too small to be a cat. You probably guessed by now, it was a skunk! He was chewing on something and making a racket. I imagined one of my fellow hikers waking up to find their food consumed by this pesky varmit. So I reached out and grabbed the can away from the skunk. Skunks don't spray all the time, only when they feel threatened and as a last resort. This skunk wasn't happy, but he slipped away into the night.
   I shoved the can underneath my sleeping bag to keep it safe for the night. I just knew that someone's precious food supply had been saved by my heroic actions. All night long I tossed and turned because of that can underneath my sleeping bag. In the morning it was finally light. As the other hikers woke, I remembered my bravery and sacrifice. I reached under my sleeping bag and produced the can, ready to return it to it's rightful owner. In the light of day I discovered my error. Other than a few scraps of food clinging to the inside of the can, this can was EMPTY! I risked being sprayed by a skunk and spent a miserable night protecting an empty can! All I could do then, and all I can do now is laugh!
   I laughed this morning when the scale said 184.0 pounds. Yes, I am still losing ground. It's the after effects of the wedding weekend and eating way too much. But I know it's only for a short season and I will get back on track. It's not worth losing sleep over! Gaining weight instead of losing it stinks, but I'd rather try and fail than never try at all.