Hiking Matt

I’ve gotten numerous messages from a ton of people wanting to know how things are going.. they are going great and I cannot wait to share.. however, for the security of the people I will be writing about, I have chosen to delay the release of the journal.. lucky you, the first entries will be coming in mere days..

Please understand that I don’t ask/tell people that I am or could be writing about them.. and with the power of the internet, people who may not want others to know exactly where they are or will be (some females),  I owe it to all to just delay the postings for a bit..

mattbob

Woods Hole Shelter (entrance) to Neels Gap
Miles hiked: 3.7
Total Miles: 30.7

Woke up periodically throughout the morning, 2:30am seems to be the norm.  I had my hang down (hanging my hammock), it was looking good, felt good but just was having a hard time sleeping.  At some ungodly hour, I finally broke my MP3 player out and listened to it for awhile, more crazy dreams.  This was also the first time in many, many years where I can remember more than one dream.  Finally at some early hour, my body said that I needed to go relieve myself.  Since such activity is such a ‘chore’ in the outdoor world, I went back to sleep.  When I woke up again some time later, I really had to go and figured that if I tried to avoid this once more, life would potentially be embarrassing and unpleasant.  Now, I know what you’re thinking, why the need to share?  Because this means I am finally getting enough water in my system.  After the circumstances yesterday, this was a positive sign.  This lesson has definitely been learned.

Crawled outta bed around 8 and packed up..can you believe that the gnats were up and waiting for me this morning, bastards.  Bee Chucker came over said that he was heading out and that a water source  was about 1/2 mile or so up the trail…excellent.  Shortly thereafter, I found myself heading north up the famous Blood Mountain.  Was almost finished filtering at the watering hole, and lo-and-behold, Phoenix shows up!  She had stopped 2 miles back from Woods Hole at Jarrards Gap spending the night there with Groove after he too had an exhausting day.

The gnats were awful at the creek, after filling up, quickly caught Phoenix Rising on the climb as well as many others.  Surprisingly, a lot of people had camped on the south side of the mountain at the Slaughter Creek Campsite.  It was another great weather day but this number of people is bordering on ridiculous.

The climb up to Blood Mountain (3895’) was surprisingly easy with numerous switchbacks with a few rocky trail ups so it didn’t take long before I was at the top.  Not only were there some nice views greet us, but it was difficult for me to enjoy them as thick swarms of black-flies were also there to eat  anything with a pulse.  The only reprieve that I had was inside Blood Mountain Shelter, where it was a bit cooler.  Since I was in there, I checked out the shelter register.  It appears that Missing Person had made it up here last night and promptly lost his food bag.  His entry said; “HIKERS BEWARE – Lost my food bag to a bear last night .  Hung it from a tree in front of the shelter. Oh well.”   That sucks.

Phoenix was finishing her climb up as I was headed down the mountain, south on the AT.  She told me I was headed in the wrong direction and that if that wasn’t silly enough, I didn’t have a pack either.  I pulled my TP out of my pocket and said I was headed in the right direction with the right gear. 
Phoenix Rising and I hung out briefly by the shelter, she chatting with Mike and Vanessa and I trying to avoid flies.  Phoenix had met Vanessa from Facebook or some other social networking site right before coming out on the trail.  Always a funny thing to watch people try to figure out how they know you and from where.

We took photos away from the masses of flies and continued walking down Blood Mountain.  Even though it did not take long to make our way down to Neels Gap (again, passing numerous day hikers going up the mountain) I was glad to be going north instead of south.
Upon arriving at Mountain Crossings (outfitter) at Neels Gap, we found out that the Trail Dames were doing their annual Hiker Feed!!  What luck!! Again!!

Met up with BeeChucker, Matt from CT (M2), and many other familiar faces sitting around the rock wall and picnic tables.  Hikers were absolutely everywhere, in and out of Mountain Crossings, buying gear, sending gear/weight home, chatting, picking up maildrops…everywhere!  One reason was due to the fact that the grill was not working very well.  It was a bit breezy and the flame kept being blown out.  A couple of the Dames with the help of hikers, moved the grill to the side of the stone building and were able to commence grilling and feeding hungry hikers.  Lucky for me, one of the Dames was a vegetarian herself which means that they had Boca Burgers! YAY!      

Groove, Phoenix, BeeChucker and myself were sitting on the wall trying to figure out what our plans were.  It was mid-afternoon and other hikers appeared to be eating and trying to figure out their plans as well.   We decided to split a cabin just down the road (.3 miles)  and enjoy the rest of the day.  While we hammered out the details the vegetarian Trail Dame came back over to me on the wall and asked if I wanted another burger.  Awhh, how cool is that?  Of course, without hesitating, I said “absolutely, if you don’t mind” and hopped down to retrieve my prize.  She stopped me, saying that she would bring it over to me when it was done.  Sah-weet.  Even my fellow hikers were slightly envious..free, good, healthy, hot food and service?  I was being spoiled.

Since Phoenix Rising had known a few people from her days of being a Trail Angel herself, she was able to secure a ride for the four of us down to the cabins with her friend Ramblin’ Man.  So, we all hopped in the back of his blue pickup truck and were whisked down to our home for the night.

It was nice to be in a structure with four walls.  Ours was called the Rabbit Cabin and we were ecstatic.  A small kitchenette meant that we were not going to be using our stoves and doing cleanup.  Also, there was a beautiful creek babbling right behind our cabin and while the threat of rain was looming, it never really did anything.

First task, laundry.  Phoenix Rising went to her room (she got the queen bed) and the rest of us just unloaded everything else in the main room. After Bee Chucker took our dirty laundry up to be washed, Groove went to task unloading unnecessary weight. BeeChucker and I had a great time watching him go back and forth from one side of the room where is pack was to a new pile on the other side of the room that was going to be mailed home. Sewing kits, mallet to tap in tent stakes, first aid kit were just a few of the items in the pile.

At one point, everyone seemed to be on their phones as we finally had good/decent service. My first call was to my friends Figgy and Stitch out in LA. They thru-hiked in 2007 and since I had tried to get a hold of them on April 1st on top of Springer Mountain, I thought to try again.

Ring-ring!

STITCH!  Hey, what’s up?…. Ohh, not much…. Guess where I’m at?  Nope, Neels Gap.  Yeah, Neels Gap, started the trail on April 1st.

It was an awesome conversation, I think I’d blown Stitch’s mind for a bit. He had known the troubles and lengths I’ve gone through to try to be able to hike the AT and here I was finally giving it a go.  Figs was not available but he told me he’d fill her in.  It was so great to talk to him again.

Phoenix Rising and Bee Chucker were able to pick up dinner provisions at the little general store for the campground and my task was to cook up our spagetti dinner.  We had lots of laughs over dinner and enjoyed sitting at a table together… very novel.  Groove was gracious enough and insisted on doing cleanup.  Who am I to stand in this man’s way?

I slept on the floor (on top of my Thermarest), Bee Chucker slept on the futon, Groove was upstairs and Phoenix got the best sleep in her room. Windows were open, more as a formality.. we were all tired, very full and very very happy.

Day 5 Photos – Neels Gap

mattbob

Gooch Gap Shelter to Woods Hole Shelter (entrance)

Miles hiked: 11.9
Total Miles: 27.0

Gorgeous  day for hiking.  Stayed nice and warm in my hammock overnight and as a bonus, the forest didn’t burn down from last night’s neglected fire.

It would appear that I am still having a hard time getting going in the morning.  Bee Chucker had a nice head cold going for him and decided to head out early.  I tinkered with a bit of breakfast and packing up, all the while enjoying the blissfully weird Lil’ asking people if anyone has something to spare or to pass something of hers over to her from afar.. then there was the constant inquiries from a young SkunkApe.

Leaving them, I finally headed out a bit after 9am.  The weather has really been quite nice the past couple days and this one looked to be another awesome day.  Shortly after leaving the shelter, I had to pull off for a pebble in my shoe at Gooch Gap.  Phoenix Rising and Missing Person pass by but stop just across USFS 42.  As I approach, I see a cooler with a bag (for trash) next to it.  TRAIL MAGIC!  Pepper and Freckles (both former Thru-hikers) had left a cooler of different varieties of small sodas (thank god there was a Dr. Pepper in there) and beer, specifically, Yuengling.  Phoenix Rising said that it was hiker’s favorite beer because it’s cheap, good and a domestic brew from Pennsylvania.  Let’s see, it’s 10:30am, of course I can have second breakfast..Yuengling it is!  Oh yeah, there was a box of Krispy Kreme donuts there, unfortunately they were completely covered in bugs, no thanks.  I tried to share the beer with Phoenix but she only took a couple polite sips.  Guess it was either too early or not hot enough out.

Did I mention it was a beautiful day for a hike?  My pace seems to be a bit quicker than Phoenix and Missing Person had already pushed on at Gooch Gap, so I spent the morning walking mostly alone, which was cool.  Then, early in the afternoon, my day was about to get a hell of a lot better, I saw a sign duck taped to a tree, Trail Angels Ahead – Free Food – Nancy & George – Cheryl & Hal.  Two, in one day, c’mon, this is bordering on silly!!  I’ll happily take it.  Nothing perks up your step than knowing you’re about to get some “Free Food.”  Sweet!!

It was such a nice day that there were a ton of people hanging out in the road side park areas (both sides) of Woody Gap .  In fact, there was so many people, that initially it was kinda hard to actually find where the Trail Magic was located.  From the east side of the gap, I could see Bee Chucker, Bojangles and Missing person next to a truck with table of food with coolers all around.  Nancy and George as well as Cheryl and Hall welcomed me to help myself to any and everything.  One of their sons (Triple Deuce) had completed a thru-hike in 2007 and they were out to help give back to the community that supported him during his time on the trail.  There was cheese, crackers, cookies, chips, fruit and some really wonderful smelling chili.  I opted out of the chili for diet reasons but took full advantage of everything else they had to offer, including some Dr. Pepper.

Since Bee Chucker and the rest had been their awhile they eventually pushed on.  I myself decided to wait to see how Phoenix Rising was doing.  I didn’t think she’d be too far along.  While enjoying this smorgasbord and looking back towards the trail, I noticed a very familiar dog.. Pepper!  Sprite and Freckles were making their way across the road and we chatted for a bit.  I thanked her (and Freckles) for that awesome breakfast trail magic.  She enjoyed the little note I left her;
“You, me and Pepper.. we’re even now.”

Where the hiker feed was today has a bit of history to it in the “Appalachian Trail Guide – North Carolina-Georgia.”  It’s a book with information regarding water sources, shelters, various trails crisscrossing the AT, profile layouts and more.  One additional feature is the history of some of the trails, roads, mountains and in this case, Woody Gap (3150′).  I’d love to paraphrase the history of this particular spot but the book does such a good job at it, I’ll cite it instead;

Arthur Woody was the state’s first ranger (often called the “barefoot ranger” because of his tendency to leave off his shoes).  It is said that he saw his father kill the last deer in the forest, during a time of little respect for wildlife and deteriorating conditions of mountains and forests.  Woody vowed that he would some day put back what the mountain men of his time had taken away.  In time, he began to restock the forest with deer and the streams with fish.  His outstanding achievements in forest-fire prevention, game restoration and preservation, land reclamation and timber management paved the way for today’s advanced methods used by the Forest Service.  Woody was a large, round, mountain man; the story is told that he asked the federal government to build a road over the mountain from Suches to Stone Pile Gap but was told the government did not build roads, they only improved them.  So Woody “scraped out a trail through the mountains” and then told the government, “I have my road.  Now, you come and improve it.” Ga.60 is that road.

Using his own monies, Woody started buying and rounding up deer, some which he even had names for, in 1927 only to have the state re-open deer hunting 14 years later.   In 1946 “Ranger’ died, having suffered serious depression from the state’s decision.   Hard to imagine such a dynamic character these days.

Soon a weary but well-spirited Phoenix came rolling into the feed with Groove just behind.  She was doing okay, but wasn’t worried as she was actually moving slow to try to protect her arm.  Good.  I pushed on after tossing my trash from my pack away.

There was a nice little climb up Big Cedar Mountain (3737′).  Passed quite a few day hikers going up the mountain and in one case, two guys with two large dogs (breed unknown) who had their own packs.  They said that they were trying to acclimate them to the rigors of hiking with packs.  I wish anyone luck with trying to hike anywhere with any animal.  Once I arrived at the top, an older gentleman had just finished a “really cool story” as Bee later told me, about how his German Shepard (dogs are everywhere anymore) was of Royal decent.  As soon as I get the whole story, I’ll edit this.

Bee Chucker and I hiked together for the rest of the day.  Our paces seem to match quite well and he’s an interesting guy.  Apparently he just moved with his girlfriend to Baltimore, MD.  However, they do not even have a place there.  His girlfriend is staying with her brother and his wife while he’s out here hiking.  Sound like a very cool girl to be able to understand his needs while she does her own thing too.  Very cool.

We pull into Jarrods Gap (3250’) and take a quick break and while there two guys approach us from their little camping area.  They ask if I have any Aqua Mira or some way to treat water.  They were weekenders and had forgotten to bring a water treatment system.  Bee Chucker and I chatted about hiking the AT, Atlanta (where they were from) and other silly topics while I retrieved my ‘emergency’ tablets for them.  After chatting for 20 minutes we moved on, still had another 1 and 1/2 miles to go to get to Woods Hole Shelter for the evening.

Not sure why, but for some reason this last little section seemed to have really done me in.  By the time I got to the shelter entrance (3600’), all my body wanted was more water, so I went to fetch some.  We had earlier decided that if water was near the entrance to the shelter, we’d just camp there to avoid walking the .4 off the Appalachian Trail to the actual shelter.  Apparently lots of other people thought the same thing, including a church group with young kids.  They were nice and ‘well-behaved,’ but I wanted nothing to do with that, too many camping trips with kids around have taught me better.  Bee pulled in just as I’d returned and had started setting up my hammock some 20-30 yards away from the group.  Since Bee is a ‘ground dweller,’ he opted for the easier route and parked himself just north of them.

Once I erected my hammock, I just laid inside for about 90 minutes, dozing in and out of sleep.   I was pooped!  Granted, this was definitely my longest day at 11.9 miles but wow, feeling like this, no good.

Bee came over and told me that I could use his bear line (cool, less work for me to do) and that a Boy Scout troop had pulled into the camping area..so that’s where the noise was coming from when I awoke.. HA!  He was a bit bummed but said that he was just going to put in his MP3 player and go to sleep.

I waited and waited to see if Phoenix and Groove were going to make it.  I had even held off making my dinner (15 bean mix) until dusk so that when they pulled in, I’d have a nice hot dinner ready to go.  They never showed.  So, here I am feeling awful trying to eat about 3 cups of cooked beans.  Again, this process took forever as every couple bites I had to lay down and relax just to keep them down.  Officially, this sucked.

I did my best but didn’t come close to even being able to eat half of my dinner, so I bagged them up, just in case Phoenix and Groove did show.  Cleaned my bowl and hung my food over by Bee where the campers were quite loud for 9-9:30pm, running around and shouting.  Can’t say I felt good, but I fell asleep rather swiftly.

mattbob

It’s quite funny how in a shelter full of new people, no one wants to be ‘that guy,’ the one who wakes up and gets going and in the process, makes enough noise to disturb others.  Since I was on the top level, the bottom people got up and going first while we just lay quietly, listening to all the stirring going on. 

What a weird, noisy, slow production.. People were everywhere trying to make breakfast or repack their oversized packs.  I decided to take a back seat to the whole affair.  I sat up in the shelter and journaled for awhile, soon.. I was the only one left in the shelter… even tenters came and went.  Just as I was putting my pack on, another hiker, swung in for a quick snack.  He said his name was Bee Chucker and that he’d gotten his name from always throwing a frisbee around.  We chatted for a few minutes and he expressed a little frustration that he had only three people at Springer Mountain Shelter the night before and that he came out here to meet other people and whatnot.  I told him not to worry, Hawk Mountain Shelter was packed last night as well as a bunch of tents set up everywhere.  Not only that, the number of people who were just ahead numbered in the dozens.

Headed down the trail, it was a beautiful day.. the fog lifted and the sun was out.  Cruised past a few rangers out and about as well as the medic crews sitting on a heavily used forest road.  Passed a handful of hikers (don’t remember names very well) watching a “thru-hiker” walking along the USFS road when I came upon a small terrier dog.  He was headed south.

What to do.

I recall seeing this dog from the night before, belonging to a lady who’d made it to the shelter later in the afternoon, in the rain..but where is she now?  If you can only imagine the number of names I went through to try to guess this animal’s particular name, you would most certainly laugh but I am not going to put myself through that now.  The dog was in obvious distress and was whimpering to continue heading south.  I thought, the owner must have been heading north, I mean, how many people go south during one of the busiest periods on the Appalachian Trail?  Only crazies would be that silly. 

Sigh.

I got my water bottle out and gave him a leaky hand fed drink.. he tried to drink out of my bottle, but see, I don’t like dog cooties, so, no dice!  While watering the dog, Bee Chucker comes back south (he’d passed me on a snack break) and said that he’d already gave him a bunch of water and was trying to figure out what to do.  We went back and forth over what logically happened and figured that the owner was indeed headed north and that worst case scenario, we’d take the dog to Neels Gap where they could pick him up.  Bee Chucker set off north to find her and let her know that the dog was okay and moving north..if only he could find her.

Problem.

The dog wanted to go south.  I wanted to go north.  I spent numerous minutes just to get him to go a couple feet.  Finally another guy came along and said that I should ‘heavily encourage’ the dog and he’d learn to follow.  Sorry, I don’t drag animals just because they don’t wanna comply.  A ‘Bob Ross’ moment came (lingo for “Happy Accident”) when that hiker started walking north.. the dog followed.  SWEET!  For about a mile or so, I had it easy, the dog thought that this was the way to go.  That is, until the guy needs to make a break of his own.  Back to trying to encourage the dog to follow.  How was this going to work.  I channeled Cesar Millan and told myself not to hurt the dog, but to be “calm and assertive and to dominate.”  He didn’t like this new Matt.. but what was I to do?  Finally, I decided that with all the whimpering, maybe this little guy was hungry.  I had a bag full of nuts.. good ones to boot.  The bad news is, there was no one around to consult.  I’ve learned through a few dog owners that some foods are really, really…really bad for them.  What about cashews, macadamia and almonds?  Quick look around.. still no one.  Well, if this ends badly, at least no one will know it was me.  He seemed to take to cashews right away.. and the macadamia nut, wow.. he loved them (and he better at this price!) but the almonds.. not so much, he couldn’t even break them down.  While he was getting some good plant protein I pulled out my bear rope (a 50ft rope used to hang bear bags but actually used for climbing) and a carabineer and made a lead for him.  We were going north, like it or not.  Talk about making my life easier.. wow.  This was awesome.  I snapped a few photos because I can only imagine what people who know me would think when they heard this story.  A couple miles after all this started, I heard someone calling.  “Peeeeeppppper, Pepper!” “PPPPEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPEEERRRRR!”  This silly dog started south again, in a tear.  He was digging hard trying to move but the leash was preventing him going another inch.  The dog was hearing his name bouncing around the leafless valley when in fact, the voice was from the north.  Finally got him turned around and had to let go of the line, he was in a full sprint.  Dog and Master, reunited… awhh.

Sprite, Pepper’s owner, told me that she had stepped off the trail to answer her own call from nature and Pepper was around her but had somehow gotten her scent back south and was ‘racing’ to catch up, which would have never happened.  She’s a former thru-hiker that likes to come out in the early part of the year for a couple hikes and also enjoys giving trail magic.  She was very nice and very happy to have her dog back.  Off I went to Gooch Mountain Shelter.

The day was brilliant, all day long, just the way hikers like.  Plenty of water to be had, less-than-difficult terrain.. Eventually came to Justus Creek.  Sprite had told me that it was a great place to relax and get some water and to camp if you wanted to.  She was right on all counts.  It was very nice indeed.  Took off my pack and purified some water to be made into Gatorade.  Life was good.  Right as I was about to head up Gooch Mountain to the shelter, I saw her and Pepper arrive on the other side of the creek.

The last 1.3 miles was the best so far, the climb was moderate but the weather was perfect. About and hour and a half later, I could make out a clothesline down in a gap and looked up to see the shelter.. I was almost there.

Pulled into the shelter where Groove, SkunkApe, Lil, Bee Chucker, SeattleSailor, BluesTraveler, and Phoenix Rising where hanging out.  I liked the idea of being able to try some items out so I too made my clothesline, then dinner and had the rest of the evening off.  What to do.  Asked if anyone wanted to help with making a fire.. and fortunately SkunkApe was down.

Slowly but surely put together a nice fire to which this group was able to enjoy great conversation over a roaring campfire.  Funny enough, and I knew someone would say this, but Phoenix Rising said “you know, this is how people get trail names.”  I said “maybe” and left it at that.  No need to provoke.  I mean, c’mon, how original is ‘Firestarter,’ ‘Firebug,’ ‘Flame,’ etc? 

Just before dusk set in, a guy named Missing Person came in and was this shelter’s, ‘late guy.’  Sucks, no one wants to be that person, but here was ours.

We chatted over the fire, until the wind kicked up to hard for the actual flames to be any use.  Since I started the fire, I guess, the masses decided that I was the one to make sure it didn’t burn down the forest.  I waited 5-10 minutes and went to bed.  It had rained for days.. any fire would only help dry this place out.  I was asleep in minutes.

mattbob

Woke up this morning, with the light pitter-patter of rain striking my tarp. Talk about being rested, warm and very happy.  After getting to bed late last night chatting with Phoenix Rising & Canada Wet, I wondered what time it was, I felt refreshed but the light outside was still a bit dim. Hit the indigo light on my watch, 2:32am!  What??  Four and a half hours of sleep and I’m raring to go.  I quickly disposed of any plans to get back up,this was just silly… 2am, pfft.

Continued to wake up periodically thereafter, not sure why.  When 8:30 came by, and most of the rain had stopped, I thought I ought get moving.

Phoenix Rising came over to say “hi” in person, not in that weird nighttime silhouette mode.  She said she was off to Hawk Mountain Shelter, 5 miles away.  Said I would probably see her there.  Packed up the rest of my gear and went to go make tea.  Canada Wet was still at the shelter, doing some journaling.  Nice chap, he’s hiking the IAT (International Appalachian Trail) for charity.  While he journaled and I finished making my Chai, two guys hiked in for a quick stop, Matt and Steve.  They had stayed on Springer and were headed for Hawk Mountain Shelter.

What great timing I had getting up a bit later than one probably should, the hiking day was great.  Granted, it wasn’t 69 degrees with blue skies and a light breeze but I enjoyed it very much.  There was a slight “ut-oh” moment about 2 miles after leaving Stover Creek Shelter.  The trail suddenly had woodsy debris scattered about, obscuring passage and behind it were downed trees, but I could still see the notorious 6 x 2 inch white blaze painted on trees down the this path but to the right was a nice wooden bridge.  Unfortunately there were no markings on trees that a turn in the path was ahead nor a wooden sign stating such a trail diversion, so of course I went over the bridge and followed that path.  About 50 yards down a tree which once had something painted on it, was definitely scrapped off..what’s that supposed to mean?  I kept going anyway..I thought that I had to be going the right way, had to.  After some time without seeing a single white blaze, the path took a downwardly direction. Still, no white paint to be found anywhere.  The path keeps going down, and by this time, you say to yourself that you definitely do not want to go back up, but that you know you’ve gotta be on the right trail, have to.  As you keep decending, you start thinking about what threshold must be met, what criteria is going to make you stop and reconsider this decision.  You figure, somethings gotta be around the corner..but there isn’t.  Then, some weird form of acceptance comes over, that the decision you made was wrong by saying “well, this trail must go somewhere, I’ll catch up to the AT up here.”  Or after you realize how utterly silly that is, you just think to yourself, “I am really going to hate walking back up all that”  As you say that, your feet continue taking you further and further down the mountain.  Just as you start to formulate a plan, voila..right there in front of you is a very clear, very white and spanking new white blaze.  You’d been right, all along.

That happened today, right before entering Three Forks.  I would later find out, I wasn’t the only one that felt like that.

Entered into Three Forks and it appears to be a nice but popular place to camp, large area for tenting and even better, awesome trees for hanging.

Ran into Reddog, who was hiking south, he had stayed (hanger) overnight at Long Creek Falls and recommended that I check it out.

The weather had started to change to a very light drizzle.  The falls were nice with lots of flow due to the amount of rain this area has gotten the past few weeks.  Chatted with a guy who was there with his two kids, very nice..he even offered to boil me some water as he had a ton of fuel.  Wish that offer still stood two hours later.  He also mentioned that they were calling for severe thunderstorms tonight, lovely.

Upon just leaving the falls trail, a group of four guy looked to be passing by until I recognized one from the MARTA Train.  Told him and the others that the path was short and worth checking out.  As I was walking out of there, it occurred to me that there were going to be a lot of people trying to make Hawk.  I best keep moving.  Eventually met and passed a hiker named Groove.  He moved well on the downs, but lagged considerably on the ups, primarily due to a 52 pound pack.  A short while after over taking him, I noticed my right foot starting to bother me.  My heal was aching a bit too much and since I wasn’t completely certain, although I knew it was close, where the shelter was, I stopped and adjusted my shoe.  Before I did anything, it dawned on me that the only reason why my foot was having any problems was due to the addition of Superfeet inserts earlier yesterday morning.  DUH!  While breaking in/testing my New Balance shoes, I never used the inserts and now, my ankle sits higher up in the shoes and therefore rubbing my heal against the top part of the heal cup.  Anywho, I quickly changed out the “designer” insert for the OEM/original one, which felt 100% better immediately when I started off again.  Unfortunately, all the guys who went to the falls were now overtaking me, and doing so  in a hurried pace.  I had only been about 100 yards away from Hawk Shelter!  grr!  As luck would have it, there was some space..the last remaining sleeping slots were quickly acquired by a few other hikers right behind me.

So, what to do, it’s 2pm, raining and a full shelter.  I asked Phoenix if she had a deck of cards, she started laughing.  Last night in one of our discussions, we said how funny it is to bring items that you’d probably never use, cards being one of them.

Phoenix and I chatted for awhile, probably an hour or so before others starting chiming in and/or expressing an opinion or story or something.  Imagine how odd it would be to sit in a shelter full of people, practically packed in, and no one talking, except two silly people who’d just met hours ago.  That’s what it was like.

Finally people started making food and getting situated inside.  More and more chatter started about this and that, the weather, where people were from, the falls, who threw what off the approach trail.

The weirdest thing about sitting in the shelter for hours was watching the clouds come roaring by.. just sailing past the entrance to the shelter.  I don’t think I’ve ever really seen anything like it.  Very interesting.

After making my Mac and Cheese and taking a picture of Phoenix’s arm from what I call a ‘knife fight’ but she calls ‘pre-cancerous cells.’

Chatted a bit longer and then headed off to bed to some very needed and well-deserved rest.  Let’s see where we make it to tomorrow.

Matt

mattbob

A Quick Notice…

At 2 minutes of 5, I finally summited Springer Moutain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. This has been a goal of mine for over 5 years and I must admit, it’s somewhat surreal. I am waiting to wake up from yet another AT dream.

mattbob