Date: 2007-03-28
From: Vandeventer Shelter, TN

To: McQueen's Knob emergency Shelter, TN
Miles today: 22.0

This was going to be the big day: 33 miles. We had all "gassed" each other about "the damascus highway". We knew it was not all flat to town; but, it was alot of ridge walking. Also from my Military and boys camp days; I am an excellent "gasser". Fed-Ex was all about it. Anyway, he left around 3:45 am and Guthook left around dawn. I thought about getting up here but the tylenol pm had my sleeping to well. I woke up when Osprey showed up. He was going to try to do 41 miles into Damascus! I told him he could do it (Im shameless sometimes). Then Kentucky Blue came in, I have begun to call her Blue Angel. I dont know what she thinks about it; but has told me not to call her that. Then mousetrap showed up. They all left and I finally got going afternoon. I was fired up. I did not hike too fast; but over 2 miles an hour, which is good for me. Especially with my 50 pound pack! I drank alot of water this day and before days end would consume everything that "O.G." had sent me in my package. I went by the Iron Mountain Shelter without stopping. I did stop at the Grindstaff monument. It is a monument to a hermit that lived up here for years. I started to get a little spooked as I thought how he had spent years just wondering around on this mountain. It bagan to thunder in the distance. I got going. One fun thing about hiking is trying to outrun a thunderstorm. Some move really slow, some really fast. this one sounded slow. I listened to the thunder for about 2 hours w/o seeing any lightning. I began to wonder if there was some blasting going on down in the valley. Then I started seeing the lightning. When I see lightning I always count until I here the thunder. Im not sure how many miles it is; but at least I can tell if the storm is getting closer. This one was getting closer and I was on an exposed ridge. I hiked really fast, even running at times. The trail just did not go down. I was also around all these mammoth oak trees. I eventually said "Katy bar the door" and ran off the trail, straight down the side of the mountain, about a 1/2 mile I guess. It began to pour with pea sized hail. I got out my sleeping mat and crouched and began praying(flashback story here). I could see lightning hit trees down below me. The lightning would strike and I would immediately hear the thunder. I was wondering if this was it. Would I see Saint Peter today. The storm did pass rather quickly. I climbed straight up the ridge. It was tough. I was not all that wet somehow. I hiked pretty hard to where I crossed a paved road. Across the road was a beautiful new purchase of an old family farm. It is just like a bald that goes by old farm out buildings and a barn. I thought the barn would be a nice place to stay; but kept going. It was sunset and I though what a beautiful place this is. You can drive right up to this spot as well. I think there is an alternate white blaze that is wheelchair accesible down the old country driveway to the west. I find myself getting a little emotional now, as I did, when I walked through this spot. It made/makes me think of my old greatgrandfather "Papa" and my Granny and all her brothers and sisters and how they lived down on the farm in Columbia, Tn. "A way of life dead & gone"; at least for my family. I remember when I was just a "tot" riding with my "papa" around his farm in his old truck. Well, I got going. The hiking was a little spookier now. After a rainstorm, it can get so still that you hear everything in the woods. It was completly dark now, the clouds blocking the moon. I stopped to eat and heard several trees fall in a minute or two span. I figured it was a bear and I was cooking some fragrant food. I made alot of noise and sang some songs. I got going and got to the Double Spring Shelter and there were 4 people already asleep. I went down to the water source and ate down there to avoid waking those folks up. I ate well, drank coffee, etc and got going. I was starting to believe that I could do this 33 miles. Then about 1 1/2 miles from the Abigdon Gap shelter; I started getting dizzy. I could not figure out why. I have drank plenty of water, ate well, took my vitamins. Whatever the case, when I got to this little bitty shelter that looked like a 2 person at the most, I laid down and was out. I woke up when my pack fell and got out my sleeping bag and slept the best I have on the trip. I think my cure for insomnia is too hike 22 miles.