Date: 2009-04-14
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter, NC/TN

To: Bald Mountain Shelter,NC/TN 
Miles today: 10.1
Weather: light rain

Cell noneOG notesThe first hour of hiking was almost all down hill. Then we reached Sam's Gap and Interstate 26, the main highway between Ashville, NC and Johnson City, TN. Then the climbing began. We climbed for the next 5 hours. The final peak was called Big Stamp, it was another bald with views we didn't get to see. At least this time we weren't being blown sideways and we weren't getting hit with stinging ice. The weather was mostly overcast as we hiked with a few bouts of rain. We were lucky in that we arrived at the shelter a little before the real rain started.This shelter is sitting at an elevation of 5100 feet. Most people don't think of this kind of elevation in the east. I'm here to tell you we do have high mountains.We just finished dinner and for once we'll be walking into town and not have an extra day's food in our packs. The reason this is important is the weight of the food; we try to not carry any more than necessary.The shelter has a double decker sleeping area. The people who built it made the sleeping area with large wooden ridges between the sleeping spaces. If the ridges were not here it could probably fit 18 people, but due to the ridges there are only 10 sleeping spaces. With that said we'll have 11 here tonight, one fellow will be on the floor in front of the bunks. It's raining and everything is wet outside, we'll squeeze in as many as we can.It's 6:10 pm now and I'm ready to get in my sleeping bag to get warm. Life on the trail can be boring at times.   We are in our sleeping bags up to 14 hours a night depending on the weather. Our sleeping bag is our final defense from the cold. The motto is stay dry, stay warm, stay safe.With that said, goodnight. C6 notesAs I type this, it's 2:25pm. We are in our sleeping bags in the shelter because it's about 40 degrees out and pouring rain. It seemed like a short day (10 or so miles), and we did end by around 1:20pm, but it certainly was NOT an easy day. A lot of uphills today, in muddy conditions. We are thankful we got to the shelter before the hardest of the rain started. I feel for "Tiger" and "Wicked Wahini," who are still hiking toward this shelter."Serenade" (Dan) is playing his guitar, so we have some wonderful music to while away the hours. It's later now - I had to stop typing because my hands got too cold. Had a nice relaxing afternoon (even took a nap), got warm, then went to get water when the rain eased up. Waiting for supper to be ready now. Supper is freeze-dried meals (often Mountain Home). We bring water to a boil, put the right amount of water in the bag and wait the correct amount of time for the food to rehydrate. The meals are okay. I do thoroughly enjoy meals in restaurants when we're in towns though!We've spent the last couple nights with a new group. "Wicked" is a lady who spent her Junior year of college in Hawaii and loved a Hawaiian perfume called "Wicked Wahini." She recently celebrated her 62nd birthday. There's a trio of guys hiking together..."Hoosier" (from Indiana...did I get the state right?), "Single Speed," and "Hodgepodge." Single Speed rode a 24 gear bike across the country (from Oregon to the East Coast) in 70-something days a couple years ago. Now he only has one speed...his legs. "Hodgepodge" is because his last name is "Hodge."Also with us is "Tiger." He did a large portion of the AT a while back, and retired from his private practice (as a therapist) 6 weeks ago to finish the AT. All of these folks are over 60. Hoosier celebrated his 63 birthday yesterday. We couldn't bake him a cake, but we did sing Happy Birthday to him.Old Goat & Check Six