Date: 2010-04-19
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Painter Branch
Miles today: 19.9

Day 22 ReportStart Location: Tri-Corner Knob ShelterEnd Location: Painter BranchDay Miles: 19.9Total Miles: 240.2 (+8.8)Distance to go: 1938.9Target Average Miles Per Day: 12.155Current Average Miles Per Day: 11.318Trip Report:I did not go to Standing Bear Farm. What is Standing Bear Farm and why didn't I go there?Standing Bear Farm is a hostel just outside the northern boundry of the Smokys. It is one of those places that most all thruhikers visit. I debated all day whether to go. Why I didn't is a long story.Let's start last night. Last night was my first stay in a shelter. Just as expected I did not like it. Last night was also the first night the section hikers out numbered the thruhikers. I mentioned the three local section hikers inmy note yesterday. They were an absolutely delightful trio of guys in there late 40s or so. They packed in beer, whiskey, even some Baileys. They also packed in enough pork chops with vegitables to share with everyone. They gathered wood, built a fire and cooked a marvelous dinner which they generously shared along with the beer and whiskey. Picture your favorite outdoorsey--it doesn't get any better than this--sceene. This morning they offered to pack out our garbage so we didn't have to carry it out. These were great guys. But they were on an overnight camping trip. I am on a long distance hiking trip. They did absolutely nothing wrong. But hiker midnight is 9:00 and overnight camping-drinking midnight is much later. To top it off, the thruhiker woman who was next to me in the shelter was able to sleep through the hijinx, but snored like a chainsaw (not her fault, just the way it was). I didn't get much sleep.So what does that have to do with Standing Bear Farm? They charge $15 either to tent or to stay in their bunk house. All day long I had been trying to figure out what the value add is. I can stay in a shelter for free (and I don't want to). Is there a differece between a bunkhouse and a shelter? Now that I am out of the Smokys I can put up my tent anywhere I want for free. Is a tent site somehow superior if I pay $15? I pondered these critical questions all day.About a mile before Standing Indian a south bound hiker passed me, so I asked if he had visited Standing Indian. He had, but he did not stay there. I asked if he could identify the value add. He mentioned that you could buy cokes, and microwave pizzas, and hiker foods for the next leg of your journey. He also mentioned--in fact he mentioned it three times in our brief conversation--that they do beer runs. I began to ascertain the value add. It is a party place. Now mind you I did not stay or even visit so I might have missed the boat.So what did that mean for me?It meant a 1300 foot climb over 1.9 miles (that means steep). But it also meant a private little camp site nestled between two gurgling streams. It is 8:00 pm as I am typing so I think I am going to spend my first night in solitude. I took several pics so you can see where I am camped. Now I am crossing my fingers that I have learned my backcountry skills and properly hung my food bag so it doesn't get stolen and I don't get attacked by a bear.