Date: 2005-04-30
From: Little Laurel Shelter

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

Last night, the constant winds teased us because they seemed like they were drying the atmosphere. Maybe a front was blowing the rain clouds out? No, by about 5:30 AM, the rain commenced. I still wriggled out of the sleeping bag before 6:30 and was the first to leave. First full day of hiking and I hoped to arrive at Flint Mountain Shelter in time for a space. Reportedly there were dozens of hikers behind us who had slowed down to take advantage of trail magic just before Allen Gap. Turbo Joe was lamenting his failure to notice the signs for the trail magic but he was philosophical about it. "I've got my own trail magic." No rain when my hike started at 7:30 but all day the skies were threatening. After passing the White Rock cliffs and Blackstaff cliffs, I came to the sign Red Hat had told me about: the newly rerouted AT traversing the narrow ledges of Big Firescald Knob with the former AT a foul-weather blue-blazed alternative. I'm sticking to the white blazed and although slow going because of the rocks, roots, and muck (reminding me very much of Vermont), a fun and rewarding experience with views out both sides of the narrow ledge. However, the fun was tempered after I stopped to take a photo at the summit and then mounted my pack with my customary over-the-head technique. Woosh! And before I could react, my rain cover was sailing gracefully like a parachute over the scrub rhododendron which lined the narrow slope. There was absolutely no way I could retrieve it, not with the very steep sides and thick brush. I started trying to penetrate the brush but realized that once I did, I'd sail downslope with the cover which now was out of sight. Well, maybe it will land on the blue-blazed trail and someone will pick it up. So the rest of the day I'm hurrying to arrive at the shelter before the threatening downpour while plotting how to manage. Let's see, there's an outfitter in Erwin. Tomorrow's supposed to be sunny. If it starts raining, I'll re-pack and place the vulnerable things in my waterproof bearbag. I still enjoyed the day. In addition to Firescald, the views from the balds today were impressive. Wildflowers are everywhere as are spring birds. Just before the ascent up the bald housing the Shelton graves, I met Wilderness Bob and Preying Mantis. Enjoyed talking to them. Bob's from the Catskills and retired. He's camera shy so no more photos of him. I moved ahead and arrived at the shelter at 2:06. They followed soon and stopped briefly - they're moving on. So again I'm fortunate - at the shelter before any significant rain and like yesterday, I'm the first one there so my place is assured. Turbo Joe strolled in by 4 and Walt a few minutes later. Joe and I will be sheltermates again but Walt's moving to a campsite a mile further down the Trail. Walt is forever asking the time - his watch is going haywire. And I don't know what map or guide he has, but he's always asking us for data like how far, what's the elevation, etc. Looks like it's just Turbo Joe and me when we heard voices and at 6:00, Diesel and Walks with Grace arrived, Harley leading the way. They had taken the blue blazed alternative and no, they didn't chance upon my pack cover. And we were joined later by Shakedown from Springfield, MO who had hiked all the way from Spring Mountain Shelter on the other side of Allen Gap. Both Shakedown and Diesel & Walks with Grace had experienced heavy rain up on the bald. So us early arrivals lucked out with only a few sprinkles. 4 slackpackers also stopped by briefly. Another fire tonight courtesy of Turbo Joe. Despite losing the pack cover, I'm feeling good. Life is good on the AT!