4/6/01
Today was full of ups and downs. Literally and emotionally! I had a rough hiking day...the toughest of the entire trip. For some reason my legs just didn't want to work going up...and there was a ton of up. All we've done the last two days is climb, climb, climb, then drop a long way, only to climb, climb, climb again and again. The day started foggy just as yesterday ended and we remained in the clouds all morning. Buzzard took the lead and I followed all day. I really was dragging on the uphill climbs, but Buzzard did a great job entertaining me with stories and song. He sang and made me laugh all day. We stopped for lunch at Derrick Knob Shelter and refilled on water. We moved on and I struggled but we finally arrived at Silers Bald shelter around 4 p.m., tired, exhausted, but happy to be at our destination.
After pumping water we started an early dinner. Marathon Man and Gapper came by and decided to push on to the next shelter. Then Brodie, Jeffrey and Shepherd came by and decided to push on as well. They mentioned that Seawolf was on his way to our shelter, and, well, that was enough for me!! I convinced Buzzard that we needed to pack up and hike to the next shelter! See, I really like Seawolf a lot, but the guy snores louder and more consistently than anyone I've ever heard, and I just couldn't take a night in the shelter with him. So, Buzzard and I repacked everything we had removed from our packs, and quickly headed down the trail at 5:45 p.m. We arrived at Double Branch Gap shelter around 6:20 and there was a large group, all thru-hikers, already in the shelter. They kindly made room for both of us. I made banana pudding for dessert and shared with Brodie and Buzzard...everyone was jealously licking their lips!! After dinner I was completely rejuvenated and we all had a great evening together, with several folks making a fire, several journaling, Paul (formerly identified as Mark by me in error) playing the fiddle, and lots of great conversation. I asked for a group picture and started something because we ended up taking the group picture with 14 different cameras. The group in the shelter tonight includes: Buzzard, Happy Brenda, Gapper, Marathon Man, Yolo, Jeffrey, Brodie, Shepard, River Wizard, Marine One, Paul, Joe and Rabbit.
Tomorrow is the big day because we climb and cross over Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the entire AT between Georgia and Maine! Its peak is 6,643' and we're only 2.9 miles away tonight at the shelter. I wanted to tent camp tonight but the DANGER sign in the shelter regarding recent high bear activity convinced me otherwise! Overall, I had a tough hiking day but the sun popped out for a while this afternoon providing a morale booster and this evening was completely joyful and upbeat with this crowd of thru-hikers. Today's stats: Low 40 degrees, high 60. Foggy a.m., partly sunny to cloudy p.m. Mileage: 16.4 hard miles. Cumulative miles: 193.0
