Date: 2015-11-06
From: Gravel Springs Hut

To: Pass Mountain Hut
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

The 2 "boy scout leaders" who joined me in the shelter/hut last night kept me up most of the night. Every time something fell out of a tree and onto the roof, or blew around outside the shelter, or there was any noise at all, one or both of them turned on their headlamps, or they actually got up to look to see what was making the noise. This went on until 4 a.m. That is when they woke up because they heard something (a squirrel, mouse, or chipmunk) chewing a nut OUTSIDE the shelter. One or both of the guys got up to investigate. Then one layed in his sleeping bag with a runny nose. Instead of blowing his nose, he sucked the snot deeply and loudly up into his nose every few minutes. And he coughed and sneezed several times. He was SICK!! He knowingly stayed in the shelter with other hikers when he had a cold.At 4:45 a.m. I could take no more. I got up and quietly began to pack my gear. Curiously the 2 "boy scout leaders" quieted down until I was almost ready to leave.As I was packing I discovered that the "boy scout leaders", who supposedly knew LNT, had also left food trash and cooking gear on the picnic table right in front of the shelter/hut. Last night Graham and I had both explained to all 3 men that all food, trash, and anything that might smell like food, such as cooking gear, had to be put in the bear box. Once again someone else put me at risk of being visited by a bear in the middle of the night, and possibly being mauled, because they did not properly handle their food/trash.As I was leaving I asked the sick "boy scout leader" if he had a tent. He said he did. Then I told him that since he was obviously sick he should not have slept in the shelter, putting everyone else at risk of catching his cold. He admitted that he was sick, but thought he was getting better. I headed out, hoping I had not just caught this inconsiderate guy's cold.About a mile from the shelter I saw a group of boy scouts and their leaders packing up their gear. They had camped about a stones throw off the trail. Right in the middle of the trail right near where the boy scouts camped, someone had built a small campfire, and all around the campfire was trash - soda cans and a tall coffee cup, along with a crushed box from store bought fire logs. All the trash was fresh, and the cardboard box was crisp and dry. The fire and littering were extremely recent. I gathered the trash into a pile and left it beside the trail. I did not have any way to carry it out. Hopefully a trail maintainer will come thru and carry the trash out. Fortunately the weather was great and the trail was easy. I stopped at a rocky outcropping to check out the view (Little Hogback Mt.) until I was chased off by the noisy boyscouts and their leaders. Despite how the day started, I was making good time and enjoying the beautiful day. Before I knew it I was at the Elkwallow Wayside, a park store with a grill, and it was open - at least today. It was closing for the season 11/8 and had limited stock. I wanted my favorites - diet Coke, a York Peppermint Patty, and some ice cream. They no longer had diet Coke or York Peppermint Patties, and the ice cream machine was not working. I ended up with a diet Pepsi and a Hershey bar. (The lady eventually got the machine to work and I did get some ice cream too.)Along the AT I was finding huge piles of bear scat. Being a Florida Master Naturalist, I like to check out scat, to identify the animal which left it and to check out what they have been eatting. I realize it may sound strange, but after hiking day after day, week after week, month after month, sometimes I need to find ways to entertain myself.Not only were the piles of scat huge, the piles varied in shape, consistency, color, and content. I took pictures of the various bear scat piles, with my boot beside the piles for perspective. Apples seem to upset the bears' GI systems the most. Nuts seem to pass thru whole - OUCH!I had hoped to hike big miles today. But about mid day I started to get tired. (That's what happens when people keep you up all night.)So I called it a day at Pass Mountain Hut, just .2 off the AT. I set up my tent in the shelter, but was prepared to take it down if the shelter started to fill up. The piped spring was just behind the shelter. I quickly made dinner and then secured my bear bag in the bear box provided.With all the bear scat on the trail I kept careful watch for bears. I still carry a life guard whistle and an air horn, both of which worked great to chase off the bear in NJ.Close to dark Graham wandered to the shelter/hut. Shortly after he arrived Graham discovered that he lost his tent poles, which he had loosely strapped to the outside of his pack. He decided to hike back and look for them. In light of the impending darkness and the bears, I recommended he wait until morning, but he headed out anyways.As I was laying in my sleeping bag trying to go to sleep I wondered what I should do if he did not come back. He left his pack for me to watch, but all I knew about him was his first name. What if he fell in the dark, he got lost, or startled a bear?? What if the batteries on his headlamp quit? What if he got cold and became hypothermic? After about 2 hours I was glad to hear him wander back to the hut/shelter. He did not find the tent poles.At 9:30 p.m. 4 weekend hikers and their dog loudly approached the shelter. Then they stood outside the shelter talking to one another and shining their headlamps on us. I finally asked if they could please not shine their lights in the shelter where we were trying to sleep. Thankfully they went back to where ever they were tenting, somewhere back up the approach trail.The AT is calling. I wish the weekend was over so I could get some sleep.