Date: October 31 2000
Trail Day: 153
Miles Today: 20
Location: Wise shelter
Section Mile: AT 1626
ECT Mile: 2325
Today's hike had two 1500 ft climbs - one to Iron mountain and another to
Pine mountain. We are now at an elevation of 5000 ft. First time since the
Whites. The top of Pine mountain is a bald and is very beautiful.
Met Mr. Pink, Mr. White, Mr. Blond and Fairweather at the shelter. We had a
fire going and talked for a while. Also saw ponies on one of the mountain
tops. the Forest Service uses them to keep the flats grazed and auctions
them off every year.
The top soil has become thin once again at these elevations and the
temperature has also dropped. Its going to be a cold night.
Date: November 1 2000
Trail Day: 154
Miles Today: 22
Location: Near Bear Tree Gap
Section Mile: AT 1648
ECT Mile: 2347
Fairweather is having a party at a friend's place. It seems the friend's
father told Fairweather she would never finish the trail and if she did,
he would throw a beer keg party with a band. Now that Fairweather has come
so far he's keeping his word and there's a party on Saturday. So my plans
are to do a full day today, a half day into Damascus tomorrow, take a O day,
hike 15 miles with the 4 and then go to the party. Sure sounds like fun.
Last night was quite cold. I should have worn my thermal underwear. The days
hike started quite sluggishly. I went on the wrong trails twice. I was
quite sure I wouldn't cross 20 miles and was surprised that I did. The day
was beautiful - very sunny with a fairly cold wind.
Passed Mr. Zip along the way. He's a retired postal employee and is doing a
flip flop - Pearisburg - Katahdin, Pearisburg - Springer. He said he does only
13-15 miles a day.
Saw some more ponies on the way. Took a
couple
of
shots.
My pace picked up
considerably the last 5 miles.
Here's a poem inspired when I was hiking into Atkin's and completed today.
Uphill Climb
A weary traveller,
After a long day,
To the next shelter,
I make my way.
I round the corner,
After an easy run,
And a forebidding hill,
Blocks out the sun.
As I hang my head,
And roll my eyes,
The little voice speaks,
And I realize.
A bed of roses,
Was never promised to me,
And as fires,
Test gold's purity,
So we are tested,
By adversity.
With heavy tread,
I now climb the hill,
Knowing my goal,
Draws nearer still.
And along with,
Other setbacks untold,
This too'll be just,
A bump on the road.
Date: November 2 2000
Trail Day: 155
Miles Today: 11
Location: The Place, Damascus
Section Mile: AT 1659
ECT Mile: 2358
It was very cold last night. My thermometer read 15 F but the actual
temperature may have been 20 F. Heard a dog yelping as soon as I started
off - did not know where it was. The trail did some ups and downs before
dumping into Damascus. Some of it ran on the side of fairly steep hills.
The footing was poor with little rocks and leaf cover. They could have routed
it along the Virginia Creeper trail which is an old abandoned railroad
grade.
First order of business was eating a banana split. Then checked email
and got my mail drop. Went to "The Place" which is a hostel run by a
local church. Its a really nice place. Only downside I could see was
that no alcohol was allowed. Showered, did laundry and ate a lot. Met Apollo
and Man on the Moon. They are 2 brothers from Rhode Island. They also have
a journal on the web. Also met 5th Wheel. He's a very quiet, soft spoken
guy who uses no foul language in his speech. Why he writes garbage, I dont know.
Started to read a novel - long and boring. After 48 pages here's what happened -
An expert in dating antiques was called to Italy to examine a recently found
statue and she started working on it. This took the author 48 pages!
Date: November 3 2000
Trail Day: 156
Miles Today: 0
Location: The Place, Damascus
Section Mile: AT 1659
ECT Mile: 2358
The shoes I bought in Bueno Vista are horrible. The sole has collapsed
and the footing is now very uneven. I did not realize this on the trail
but as soon as I started walking on the road it was apparent. There are no
shoe shops in Damascus. I was discussing my options with the folks at the
breakfast place. They told me I could get shoes in Abingdon about 13 miles
away. One of them also let me borrow his bike. The Virginia Creeper trail runs
to Abingdon. It was a nice bike ride. I bought a pair of Reeboks and drank
some beer in a local tavern. The waitress kept calling me Sweetie. Its a
southern custom and takes some getting used to.
My Leki poles are stuck because of dirt and gunk. Took it to the outfitter.
They cleaned it out for me. Met Mr. Zip, Moondance, Mr. White, Mr. Pink
and Mr. Blond again. Later on, at about 8 PM Fall Girl, Firebreather,
Sweet Cicily and George showed up. It was nice to see them again. Its
interesting that even I have seen them the most on the trail, I
haven't gotten to know them much. We have never spent time in a town
together. I hope we get a chance to do that soon. The AT is now slowly
beginning to wind down. We have started talking about it. Even though its
not the ending point for me, I am starting to feel a little emotional.
It will certainly be a big transition point. It also looks as though a
large number of people will be finishing around the 1st week of December.
At night, me, the 3 Mr's and Moondance played a version of Monopoly
by Mad magazine. It was goofy.
Date: November 4 2000
Trail Day: 157
Miles Today: 15
Location: Jefferson West
Section Mile: AT 1674
ECT Mile: 2373
Late last night AYCE also showed up at the place after a 40 mile day !
Today morning me and Mr. Zip decided to do an early breakfast and went
to the Street Car cafe at 6:00 AM. It was closed. We decided to leave
our pack back at "The Place" and go to another breakfast place. Moondance
and AYCE were already up and joined us.
The first 5 miles of the trail were a climb. Crossed into Tennessee after
about 3 miles. Took a
photo
at the border. This is now my 14th state. After
the climb the hike was quite easy. Got to US 421 at about 1:30. Mr. White,
Moondance, Mr. Blond and Mr. Pink then showed up. We waited for a while
for Sabrina's friends - Marriette and Lena. We then drove in the wrong
direction for a while before finding the right way.
The party was quite fun. It was also one of the other guest's birthday. So
they had a stripper ! It was fun. We had dinner and drank the beer. Me,
Alice (Mariette's sister) and Sam (Alice's room-mate) were up till
2:30 AM finishing the beer and talking about politics, religion and abortion.
They are bright young women.
Date: November 5 2000
Trail Day: 158
Miles Today: 0
Location: Low Gap
Section Mile: AT 1674
ECT Mile: 2373
A typical after party morning. Every one was slow. We had breakfast, took
some
shots
and left. By about 1:00 PM we were on the trail. I decided to
take a nap and do a O day today in the wilderness. Should be a fairly cold
night.
Date: November 6 2000
Trail Day: 159
Miles Today: 24
Location: Near Watauga Dam
Section Mile: AT 1698
ECT Mile: 2397
It was cold last night - 25 F although I slept quite warm. I have found
that its warmer to sleep outside on the leaves than in the shelters. The
floor of the shelter is raised above the ground and tends to cool quickly
whereas the leaves dont.
Not too many elevation changes today. So it was a good hike. Continued to have
water problems. Most of the springs are dry. We certainly need some rain.
It now loooks like Firebreather's group of 4 and the Mister's group of
4 and Mr. Zip are a few miles ahead of me. I should be able to catch them up
tomorrow. There is a good possibility that me and the Firebreather group
will get to Springer within a few days of each other.
I was trying to get to Watauga Lake Shelter (another 1 mile) but decided
against it because most probably all the 9 ahead of me are at the shelter
and I will have to sleep out anyway.
Got water from the dam via a rocky, sliding 50 ft walk. Tarping tonight as
it looks like it will rain. I have not heard the pitter-patter of rain
on my tarp in a long time and miss it.
