Journals

According to Pittsburgh:

APRIL 30, 1997 - WEDNESDAY
   breakfast at SHONEYS, then off to NEWFOUND GAP (US 441). the weather was perfect. we slung on the BACKPACKS and reentered the SMOKIES. stopped at ICEWATER SPRING shelter for a break, then headed on. CHARLIES BUNION is a unique rock formation that the trail passes over. there is a sign, warning of the dangerous conditions, that states "CLOSELY CONTROL CHILDREN". along the way were a few KNIFE EDGE's. these are portions of the trail where the drop off on both sides is close to vertical. these must be fun on a windy day!!!
   we reached our destination, PECKS CORNER shelter, and three of us pitched our tents. SUNSHINE decided to lessen her pack weight by eliminating the tent, so she set up in the shelter. we met some new people, and saw some old familiar faces: NO AGENDA (lady hiking alone doing low miles), WOODCHUCK (had seen him in FONTANA, but had forgotten his name), JERSEY JIM (fella), KEEBLER ELF and WEEBLE (young couple we had met in FRANKLIN), BACK ACHE and RAVEN (another young couple), GRIM CREEPER (lady hiking alone doing high miles), TORTOISE and HARE, plus HANKY (three older gentlemen)...
   also at the shelter were 7 or 8 teenagers that tented. they decided to hoot and holler until MIDNIGHT. their lack of respect put a damper on an otherwise glorious day...

MAY 1, 1997 - THURSDAY
   the teenagers had an ALARM CLOCK that went off at 6am. some RAIN fell shortly thereafter, soaking the tents, then quit. we packed up, ate breakfast in the shelter, and headed out. after an hour or so, the weather cleared and another GLORIOUS day began...
   the hike was fun. the SCENERY, the WEATHER, and the TERRAIN all contributed to an enjoyable, and unusual, day. we hiked overtop of a large concrete triangle that i recognized as a HELICOPTER LANDING AREA. not too far beyond, we passed some metallic debree, with many rivets, that was apparently AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE. this is not the sort of thing that i expected to find out here on the trail, especially in the middle of the SMOKIES...
   we stayed the night at COSBY KNOB shelter, SUNSHINE in the shelter and the rest of us tenting. some of the same people from the night before were also there, others had hung back, or pushed on. a few new people were there: a section hiker named JOHN, a fellow named DAWG with nothing but an overnight bag, and a mentally impaired and highly inebriated character that was a nuisance. this last fellow was ill-prepared, and had no concept of backcountry etiquette. unknown to us until morning, he had left the remains of his supper outside of the shelter. this is an open invitation to hungry wildlife, and is a BIG NO-NO. he also had other food in his pack that was sitting on the floor in the shelter. the MICE must have had a feast. he also was SMOKING in the shelter...
   we survived...

MAY 2, 1997 - FRIDAY
   we were up, packed, fed, and gone quickly. it was a sprint to get out of the SMOKIES. SUNSHINE did the eight miles to DAVENPORT GAP (TN 32, NC 284) in 2.5 hours! SHAMROCK, TIMMY, and i did it in under 4 hours. the van was not yet there, but the shuttle provided by MOUNTAIN MAMA's KUNTRY STORE and HIKER HOSTEL was. we hopped aboard. GILAMAN and PANTHER FAN were at MAMA's, and were surprised that we were out of the SMOKIES so quickly. we set up our tents, then ate big juicy CHEESEBURGERS at the store...
   PETER PAN showed up, much to the delight of TIMMY. we headed back to DAVENPORT GAP, and slackpacked to INTERSTATE 40. PANTHER FAN, KEEBLER ELF, and WEEBLE also joined us. this stretch of trail is very scenic, with a cascading stream much of the way...
   back at MAMA's, we all took showers and relaxed. supper was a PASTA and SAUCE group meal. we shared the extra with a few of the other hikers. some of the people there were: the BLISTER SISTERS (4 ladies hiking together), SNORE BEAR (you guessed it), CHRIS and MARGE (we had met them on our 10th day out), ME MAMA, SOLO, CATERPILLAR, SCATMAN, JERSEY JIM, and others. a large fire was lit at dusk, and people came and went as it burned into the night. the rains came after most everyone was settled in, and it rained through the night...

MAY 3, 1997 - SATURDAY
   the rains stopped abruptly at 7am. we were up, packed, and ready to eat when the store opened it's doors at 8am. they'll fix your eggs anyway you want them as long as it is SCRAMBLED! we were on the trail at 9:15, headed for MAX PATCH ROAD (NC 1182). the first 5 miles or so were all uphill, but we didn't care, the sun was out. the winds became very strong near the end of the hike, and TIMMY and SHAMROCK had the rare opportunity of seeing a tree fall. after the hike, the winds never stopped, and the temperature started dropping...
   GILAMAN and i ran two hikers into HOT SPRINGS, NC. STELLA BLUE and ARTFUL DODGER. STELLA had been hiking with a bad knee, and it finally got the better of her. she and DODGER will be back on the trail after a rest...
   when we returned from HOT SPRINGS, everyone had their tents up, and were inside. it was still windy, and the temps had continued to fall. everyone made a mad dash to get things out of the van, or put things in the van, then got back into their tents. SUNSHINE jumped into the front seat of the van to work on here journal. the rains came shortly after dark...

MAY 4, 1997 - SUNDAY
it had HAILED and SLEETED at times during the night. the low temps and high winds continued into the morning. we all ate in the van, and then waited in the van for the weather to break. it did not break. we started hiking one by one. the climb over MAX PATCH SUMMIT was miserable. the wind was very strong, and the visibility was nill. the weather improved quickly afterwards, but a chill remained all day long. there were patches of SNOW at the top of BLUFF MOUNTAIN!!!
people along the way were: BOG and SLOE, HATMAN and HAPPY FEET, WOODCHUCK, KEEBLER ELF and WEEBLE, and others. at our destination, GARENFLO GAP, we scattered to find good tent sites. generally we will put our tents close together, but this is not possible here. the sun was out, but the cold would not be suppressed. it was an early night for all of us...

MAY 5, 1997 - MONDAY
   it did not rain, hail, sleet, or snow last night. the sun was up as we broke camp and ate breakfast. what a welcome relief. today was a hike through HOT SPRINGS, NC, to TANYARD GAP (US 25/70). it was a lazy, un-muddy hike. except for the climb out of HOT SPRINGS, the trail was gentle...
   we saw GILAMAN and PANTHER FAN at the laundromat in HOT SPRINGS as we hiked through. we all stopped, shed clothing, snacked, and then continued. we met a hiker named TORTOISE right outside of town. he had been on the trail since MID-MARCH. later, we passed ACHILL JACK (now called APPLE JACK) and LAZY BOY. it was nice seeing them. they had sped up after the first day in the SMOKIES, and had been in HOT SPRINGS for three days...
   the van was at TANYARD GAP. we all hopped in and headed back to HOT SPRINGS. we are staying at the SUNNYBROOK INN, a large VICTORIAN style house that is a B & B type of place that also hosts HIKERS. it is a laid back place with two dogs, 2 cats, and many kittens. they serve veggie dinners and breakfasts, much to the delight of SUNSHINE...

MAY 6, 1997 - TUESDAY
   a bell rang to summon us to the wonderful gourmet vegetarian supper last night at the SUNNYBROOK INN of HOT SPRINGS, which included SOUP, SALAD, VEGGIES OVER RICE, HARD BREAD, TEA, and PECAN PIE. there were eighteen people seated around two tables, with fine china, candles, and more food than we could eat. an after supper movie was offered, but most everyone retired to their rooms to relax. we had three and a half rooms for the seven of us. GILAMAN shared a room with JERSEY JIM, a familiar face from the trail. the night was cool and rainy, but being indoors, we left the balcony doors open...
   the dogs and roosters woke some of us up early. this is a non-hiking day for us. the bell rang to summon us to breakfast at 8:30am, which included GRANOLA CEREAL with MILK, FRESH BAKED ROLLS and BUTTER, FRESH GRAPEFRUIT and CANTALOUPE, ORANGE JUICE, COFFEE, and TEA. we all dispersed after breakfast. there were many, many hikers in town, some familiar, some not. i made a few trips into town to use a pay phone, and to keep the feet moving. we all met for lunch at a local restaurant, then got BEN & JERRY's ICE CREAM for a treat...
   SUNSHINE and GILAMAN spent part of the day at the HOT SPRINGS SPA, soaking in the mineral baths and getting massages, while PANTHER FAN did some laundry. later, GILAMAN and PANTHER FAN headed out of town to do some shopping. the rest of us filled the day with whatever was important: shopping, writing letters, postcards or journals, working on the computer, or meeting and greeting other hikers in town...

MAY 7, 1997 - WEDNESDAY
   we tip-toed out of the INN before 7am, walked across the street to eat, then headed for TANYARD GAP (US 25/70). this was the best hiking day, weatherwise, that we have had. the sky was clear, the sun was bright, and there was no humidity. SUNSHINE, TIMMY, and SHAMROCK hiked out first. i was a few minutes behind. we all met up at SPRING MOUNTAIN shelter. the PRIVY was calling me, so i stayed a while after they left...
   some hikers that i met: BOG and SLOE (slackpacking south), HATMAN and HAPPY FEET, PIPPI, BO and MTN, a few whose names escape me, and TYBEE PETE. this is the same PETE that i met at AMICALOLA FALLS STATE PARK on the friday before EASTER. he had started hiking that saturday, MARCH 29, which was a full two weeks before SUNSHINE and i left SPRINGER. he has been taking his time...
   CAMP CREEK BALD was our destination for the day. GILAMAN and PANTHER FAN had trouble finding the trail at the bald. it turns out that the trail does not go over the bald. PANTHER FAN did some BUSHWACKING in an effort to locate the trail. he was successful. they both spent a good bit of time determining were the best campsites would be, and how to BUSHWACK there from the trail...
   the spot we ended up tenting at has a superb view of the valley to the north (towards GREENEVILLE, TN), plus the BLACKSTACK CLIFFS to the east. the entire bald, unfortunately, is heavily littered. SUNSHINE did some cleanup, but there was just too much debree for her to make much of a dent...
   supper was LIPTONS, BREAD, and LEMONADE for the main course, and PUDDING for dessert. i also had some BAKED BEANS and TUNA. meals such as this may seem simple and unappealing, but after many hours of physical excertion, these quick hearty meals are welcome and appreciated. cleanup is also very easy...
   as usual, everyone dispersed after supper to do whatever. the wind was picking up, and the chill was setting in. i had situated my tent so that the sunset was visible from the front window, and the cliffs from the back. for a few moments, during the sunset, the cliffs brightened with a red hue. i thought how fortunate i was being up on the bald on a clear night with a red sunset...

MAY 8, 1997 - THURSDAY
   the winds were occasionally strong during the night. in the morning, the winds were really whipping. the ladies were up and had their tents down before we guys ventured out. we were all hiking by 8am...
   the temps were chilly and the sky was overcast, and it remained that way for most of the day. there was a short period of rain, but the sun did show itself intermitently by early afternoon. we saw: WALKING CARROT and NOWHERE MAN (had seen them in HOT SPRINGS), ANASAZI, THE ANCIENT ONES (an older couple), TYBEE PETE, PIPPI, TORTOISE (had met him leaving HOT SPRINGS on the day that we hiked through), and BEN and RUBY (fellow and his dog) who are section hiking from DAVENPORT GAP to the SHENANDOAH's...
   TIMMY's cousin LAURA was waiting at our destination, DEVIL FORK GAP (NC 212), when we arrived. TIMMY did not know that she would be there, and was surprised. PETER PAN had planned the surprise. we hopped in the vehicles and headed for ASHEVILLE, NC and LAURA's house. we will be staying there for two nights, commuting to the trailheads. we showered, then headed into town for a meal. everyone was real zonked out when we returned, so one by one we hit the sack on LAURA's large enclosed backporch...

MAY 9, 1997 - FRIDAY
   we ate breakfast at IHOP (life is tough), then drove to DEVILS FORK GAP (NC 212). TIMMY's cousin LAURA, our gracious host, decided to hike with us today. the weather was wonderful and the views were great. LAURA had never seen her home territory in this manner, and was thrilled...
   we saw: PIPPI, MELTDOWN (formerly known as HOT LEGS, until she burnt up her tent), and BEAVIS, who was hiking southbound, was shirtless, and had a large cardborad photo of KATHY IRELAND strapped to the back of his pack...
   near the end of the hike, it became chilly, and the rains came. the van was waiting at SAMS GAP (US 23). we threw our wet things inside and headed again to ASHEVILLE, NC. LAURA had invited us to stay another night at her home. some of us headed for lunch, while others took showers. later, LAURA left for a dinner engagement, and we all headed to OLIVE GARDEN for supper...

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