Date: 2009-04-12
From: Mt Collins Shelter, NC

To: Pecks Corner Shelter, NC
Miles today: 14.9
Weather: clear sky

Happy Easter!It was freezing when I woke up this morning. I stayed warm throughout the night...the hand warmers were wonderful. It was so hard to get up and when I did get up my shoes were frozen. Have you ever tried to put on frozen shoes? Or tried to tie the laces? Crazy. Just imagine six hikers trying to pound their feet into their shoes. All we could do was laugh. However, the sun was shining!! Yeah!! It looked to be a fabulous day! I was excited and so looking forward to the day. I jammed my feet into my frozen shoes and hiked out. My first stop of the day was Newfound Gap and I was hoping to get cell phone service so that I could send out the last couple days of journal entries. Everyone was on the phone, but I had nothing. Bummer. I arrived and the place was packed which surprised me for Easter Morning. We were all going to get water as the data book said that there was a water fountain. Joker dumped out her water before we realized that the fountain was turned off. Everyone was low on water and the next water supply was 3 miles away. I asked a couple of tourists for water until one gave me a bottle which I split with Madelyn as she was the only one still there. We took pictures of each other at the North Carolina/Georgia state line sign. I'm still not completely out of North Carolina, but still walking the state line. Before I left I got rid of my trash, because who wants to carry anything not needed. I finally left the gap and started the ascent out of the gap. I was walking along and saw a snowman that someone had built along the side of the trail. Cool! I was taking a picture and up walked Western and Red Tree. I haven't seen them since Hiawassee. We caught up and I told them not to walk past Charlies Bunion as the views are supposed to be great, then they walked on. Later I got passed by Seneca, Allen and John Paul and I told them about Charlies Bunion as well. I got to the Icewater Spring Shelter and there were the boys having lunch by a fire some previous hikers had made. I left them to their lunch and hiked on to get water from the spring just up the trail. They soon passed me again (they walk really fast). Madelyn caught up with me while I was getting water and we hiked together to Charlies Bunion. What an awesome view! This became a day of wonderful views. There were times where the trail was along a ridge with both sides sloping down steeply and I could see for miles in both directions. It was hard to walk as I wanted to look all around me at the beautiful scenery. I had walked with Madelyn for quite some time, but lost her when I stopped to take off a layer. I slowed down some and just tried to take in the day. In some directions, I could see pieces of civilization amongst the mountains. In other directions, it was nothing but tree covered mountains. The landscape looked like someone had put hundreds of wrinkles in it. Just folds and ripples for as far as the eye could see. Other views were of extremely rugged rock. I am so glad that I had nice weather for today's hike. I finally made it to the shelter at around 5:30 and Leap Frog and Madelyn were talking about heading to the next shelter over five miles away. Madelyn is 65 and in awesome shape, but even so I thought a 20 mile-day was crazy. I hope they make it in before dark and that there is room in the shelter for them. When I first got here it was just Rock and Leatherman, but soon Peanut Butter, Big Fish and Spotlight showed up. Then in walks Ramble On and his friend Greg. I haven't seen Ramble On in forever. I've seen his entries in the shelter journals and I've been a day or so behind. He lives close by and, of course, went home for a night. (He goes home a lot. Ha) So we are filling up for the evening. It feels like it is going to be warmer tonight, but there is rain in the forecast for some time tomorrow. I'm hoping to do a 12.9 mile day tomorrow and hoping that the rain holds off until later in the day. The trail itself was much improved today and not as muddy or wet as it has been the past couple of days. Very nice. I would like another day like today, but I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful day today!