Day 107
Thursday, 10/5/00
Little Laurel Shelter to Deer Park Mountain Shelter
22.8 miles
Another nice day… Woke up a few times last night to coyotes or wild hell-hounds or something barking… oh, and another thru-hiker showed up. He’s a flip-flopper named “Rocks” (A flip-flopper, as the name implies, starts at one end and hikes to a certain point then gets the other end and hikes back to that point. There are many variations of this). He went from West Virginia to Maine, now he’s doing Georgia to West Virginia. Nice guy. Didn’t get much food from that group. A couple carrots though… good enough.
On the trail by 7:45. Went good and fast all day. Talked to some folks picnicking. They gave me a little food… Kept moving with thoughts of food in my head… It was pretty hot today. Kinda weird for October, even in the south.
Got to Hot Springs about 2:00. Nice little town! Got fuel at outfitter. Ran to P.O. and packed up food in front of outfitter. While there, Dan “Wingfoot” Bruce showed up. He is the guy who writes the “Thru-hikers Handbook”. He says there will be a special southbounder’s edition next year! Sweet…
Went to “grocery store”. Horrible selection and outrageous prices. Got my permit for the Smoky Mountains. Called dad. He says they’re thinking of coming to Georgia to pick me up! That’d be great!!! Phone card ran out…
Headed out of town at 4:30. I love having lots of food available, but man is it HEAVY! Oh well… Made it 3.2 miles uphill to here by 5:30. No one else here… yet…
Going over Max Patch Mountain tomorrow. One of the more famous southern balds. They’re great!
Probably doing 23 or so tomorrow…
In Hot Springs, NC with Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce.
Day 108
Friday, 10/6/00
Deer Park Mountain Shelter to Groundhog Creek Shelter
23 miles
Had trouble getting to sleep last night. Lay awake until after 10:00. Thinking about home… less than 2 weeks now… I’ve passed the 1,900 mile mark…
On the go by 7:45. A few easy hills before hitting Bluff Mountain. Big, long climb up to 4,686’. No views though… couple more ups and down before a long, but very gradual ascent up Max Patch. Got to the treeless summit (4,629’) right when the clouds moved in. Got a few views… Long up and down descent to here. Pretty uneventful day…
Starting to rain here and the temperature is dropping fast.
There’s a chance of snow flurries in the high country this weekend! That might be neat.
6 people at shelter… maximum capacity. Oh well… (Lonely when I’m alone, and missing the solitude when it’s crowded… go figure…)
Don’t know where I’m a-goin’ tomorrow. Probably 25.3…
Get started on the Smokies!
Atop a southern bald.
Day 109
Saturday, 10/7/00
Groundhog Creek Shelter to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
25.3 miles
Didn’t rain too much last night. The temperature did drop quite a bit though. (I am writing this on 10/10, so I don’t remember too much. Same with the next 2 entries.)
Hiking around 7:45. Very foggy. 2.5 mile climb, then a 6.5 mile descent to I-40. Then a 6.5 mile ascent, passing into Great Smoky Mountain National Park (GSMNP).
Climbs were long but enjoyable. Only wearing shorts and my 2 shirts (coolmax T-shirt and coolmax sleeveless shirt).
Went down to visit Cosby Knob Shelter. Some college kids there gave me some food.
3 or 4 years ago, an F-4 jet crashed in the Smokies. Part of the wing was at the shelter! Kinda cool…
The higher I got, the colder it got! Near the end of the day it was snowing some!
3 other folks at the shelter… got cold real fast…
Day 110
Sunday, 10/8/00
Tri-Corner Knob Shelter to Newfound Gap (US 441)
15.6 miles
I froze last night! It was tough to get out of bed! When I did, at about 8:30, I went outside. Everything was coated with rime-ice. Frozen clouds… Very pretty but cold too…
Passed “Charlie’s Bunion”, an interesting rock outcropping. Lots of up and down…
Started seeing los of people as I neared Newfound Gap. Got there about 2:30. Waited for 10 minutes for a hitch. Picked up by some German-sounding people in a Jeep. Drove down a very scenic 15 miles to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Went to outfitter, “the happy hiker”. They set me up in a room for $25! Nice.
Vegged out in front of TV and went out to eat a calzone at a pizza place.
Nice town. Didn’t went to spend another 15 degree night in a 40-degree bag (a very worn out 40-degree bag at that)…
"Charlie's Bunion", Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Day 111
Monday, 10/9/00
Newfound Gap (US 441) to Silers Bald Shelter
12.5 miles
Slept in till 8:00. Out at the road near 10:00. Found a perfect spot to hitch, but no one would pick me up! Even the people who’d given me a ride into town passed me! (could have been the smell) Waited for an hour then went back to the outfitter to guy some gloves (my $1.25 Walmart ones had worn out). Bought some nice Mountain Hardwear gloves. (Still have these gloves!). Went back to the road…
Waited another half hour before some nice rednecks picked me up. They were hikers too. Got hiking again by 12:30. Very cold! Long, but gradual climb up to Clingman’s Dome (6,643’), the highest point on the Appalachian Trail! Lots of snow and ice. Extremely cold descent down to the shelter.
Supposed to be even colder tonight. Argh!
Put my space blanket inside my sleeping bag (somehow it ripped into 3 pieces) and rolled up in my tarp. 3 other people here.
Rime-ice and snow atop Clingman's Dome, Tennessee (6,643').
Day 112
Tuesday, 10/10/00
Silers Bald Shelter to Mollies Ridge Shelter
17.1 miles
Another freezing night! Had to take a leak about 6:00. It was so cold but I couldn’t wait. It was incredibly clear! You could see every star in the sky!
Anyway… reluctantly got out of bed at 7:30 to get food bag. Crawled back in the bag quick! I used my tarp for extra warmth last night but it collected all the condensation so my bag was soaked and icy! On the go by 8:45…
Very cold hiking. Came over a hill and saw a bear running away from me! That makes 2! Sun came out! Lots of ups and downs… Gradually got warmer. Well not warm, but less cold… very, very clear today. Excellent views! Toward mid day, I actually took my coat and gloves off! (I was wearing everything I have!) Temperature eventually got pretty comfy!
Here at shelter at 3:30 to catch up on journal. Could have gone another 5 miles… it’s cold now that I’m not moving! 5 other people probably headed here. They’re gonna start a fire!
I just realized it’s been 3 months since I left Gorham, NH. Moving pretty quick…
Day 113
Wednesday, 10/11/00
Mollies Ridge Shelter to Cable Gap Shelter
17.6 miles
Today is a milestone!!! It has been 4 months since I started AND I crossed the 2,000-mile mark! I’ve gone 2,010.9 miles!
It warmed up last night. Must have been at least above 32 degrees because my water didn’t freeze. Hiking by 7:40. I was truckin!
Fontana Lake looked like it was about 100 feet lower than the high water mark. Looked odd. The dam was impressive, 480 feet high! Highest dam in the East. Went to Visitor’s Center. Employee gave me a Pepsi! Nice. Moved on to the famous “Fontana Hilton” Shelter. There was no register there, so I left a notebook that I’d bought for that purpose. It’ll be neat to get it back! I never did get it back… bummer.
Got to NC 28. Changed into shorts for the first time in a while. Felt good… Tried to hitch a ride. No luck. A hiker came out of the woods and told me about a shuttle to town for $1. So, I called the number… said they’d be there in no time. An hour later I called to see if they’d forgotten… Soon someone came. Got my mail… thanks for the card and the money mom. Drove back to the trail. Hiking again around 3:00. Long, enjoyable climb. I actually kinda like climbs these days. Left knee is starting to feel iffy but who cares! Only 8 days left…
Got here about 4:45. No one else here. I’ll pass Nantahala Outdoor Center tomorrow. Good night…
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