Day Seven ~ Thursday, May 2

Another hard hiking day. Hollis says it was about 6 miles and 1000 feet in elevation change.
We left the Hostel at about 9:30 a.m. We did the usual mile hike down to Glenridding’s downtown. From there we set on a path that borders around the lake, and did a short, lake-side hike. Once we hiked across to the other side of the lake from our starting point, we began our ascent. The view grew increasingly astounding, as we could see more and more of the Lakes District.
I believe we made it to our lunch rest place by about 12:30 p.m. It was a little below the peak – about a 10-15 minute hike. I stayed with the resting group, and told them a little about Philmont.
Once the peak group returned, we had to book it however. We had a little over an hour and a half to go the three miles to catch the “steamer” (a ferry) to take us back across the lake. If we missed that ferry, we’d have to hike back the five miles to Glenridding.
But we caught it! And it was a pleasant 40 minute ride across the lake. I drifted off to sleep down underneath, inside.
Then we had to hike back up to the Hostel. From there, we had dinner and evening program – we played the drawing/writing “telephone” game we had played in FYS. Super funny! I took a shower, and then we had time to celebrate Orson’s birthday. We all had a beer. Yes, even me. This time I got a cider, which had a slightly more favorable flavor. It had 4% alcohol concentration (at least, I think that’s what that means).
Wow. I suddenly just got light-headed, dizzy and nauseous. Probably my sign to drink water and go to bed.

-Joseph Bruner