Date: 2003-09-28
From: Horn's Pond Lean-to

To: Little Bigelow Lean-to
Miles today: 10.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Come the dawn and this guy isn't really that bad. He's just brand new 'cause he doesn't really seem to know anything. He is apologetic, and so am I. We point him in the right direction, and he and all his brand spankin' new hiking stuff go on down the Trail to ask questions from the next bunch of real hikers.        Oh, and something else. In the middle of last nite, I get up to answer nature's call. Am just under the shelter overhang and it's raining and storming, and I look out there on the ground about 20 ft. or so and I see something glowing. I'm standing there with rain blowing in on my face and my johnson, trying to figure out "What is this green glowing thing, out there on the ground?" I know it sounds silly, but it looked for all the world like a piece of "Kryptonite" in the Superman comics. I'm not gonna wade out there barefoot in the rain and the mud. In the morning, there were just rocks out there. Nothing else, just rocks. "What" it was and whether it is still there, puzzles me to this day. A rock that glows green in the dark? But, the glowing green rock and the greenhorn section hiker are forgotten as Snakecharmer and myself make our way over Bigelow Mtn. West at 4,145 ft. It's more exposed, and the wind is blowing hard enough to make me nervous. (A person could catch a gust, slip, and come right off of one of those ridges.)Avery memorial campsite, Bigelow Col was where we ate lunch in the rain. (Lots of nice tent platforms). Then it was 7 miles to the next Lean-to, but it seemed like more. There were a great many false peaks where you think that you're over the top of Little Bigelow East and you find out that you're not...several times...in the rain. Finally, about 5:30 p.m., there it was, full up with people already, and the roof leaks. Just when you think it can't get any better, more hikers arrive. The best part is that Spotlight Guy, from the last shelter, is headed our way. The best guess is he will get here about...9:00 p.m. Surely, he will be hungry, an wanna talk...just shoot me now, Lord. Get it over with.You just haven't lived until you've rubbed elbows with a dozen people trying to dry off and fix dinner in room enough for eight. And by the way, there's one little fella here, I wish I could remember his name, but he makes and sells commemorative walking sticks made out of wood, and inlaid with a small A.T. plaque. But THAT'S not what I wanna tell you about. This guy is a Grade A motormouth. He hiked the A.T. years ago as a teenager and met almost everyone I ever heard mentioned in A.T. circles. He was just so dammed knowledgable. Fortunately, he was sobo, so I knew I'd only have to listen to him for a bit. This little guy had CHOSEN to sleep under one of the roof drips. He had a whole song and dance about how everybody always trys to keep dry out here, but he had learned to sleep in a puddle while he was younger and he just LOVED it! If he hadn't just been so darn interesting, I might have thought about stuffing a sock in his face. But no. I had had my little temper fit the night before and was still feeling a mite sheepish for coming down so hard on the Spotlight Guy, who, by the way, hadn't gotten here yet. Hope he hasn't broke a leg or something.Finally, he limps in out of the nite. He takes what's available, makes small talk, fixes his dinner, and is done for the nite. He's probably purt near exhausted and with a bum knee to boot. Guess he's finding out that there's more to this hiking business than they mention in "A walk In The Woods". That nite 14 people sleep in a shelter meant for eight. Four more tent out back.