Date: 2005-04-17
From: Iron Mountain Shelter

To: Abingdon Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: clear sky

It was nice and cold out this morning, so as usual, I wasn't so motivated to get an early start. There seems to be a pattern forming here, doesn't there? Got up around 7:30, the early birds were all taking off by that point. Of course, they'd all been digging around making noise since 6:30 or earlier. I took my time, and was last out around 9. About that time, I was caught from behind by another hiker. We talked for awhile as we walked. Seems he's been on the 4-month plan. Started 2 1/2 weeks after me. Says it was awful crowded back there when he started - full shelters and full campsites. Glad we don't have that problem here toward the front of the pack... or maybe it's the middle by this point. But either way, he reminded me that while it was cold and nasty, the early start was worth it. On the way we also passed a SOBO thru-hiker, Uncle Kodak. He's been at it since July. He shared some photography tips with me, so I'll be giving those a try if I ever see some brightly colored flowers again. Anyway, the trail crossed a road then wandered through a green field and through some old farm buildings for about a half mile or so, then back into the woods. Ran into the first shelter well before I expected to. Stopped, ate lunch. When I went down to the spring, I found a can of PBR floating in the pool. Magic! But alas, that meant the TN Walkers' friend they were pushing on to meet brought beer, making my decision to stop short seem foolish. Oh well, at least they left one for me. I'll thank them if I see them tomorrow. It made the crackers, cheese, pepperoni, and beef jerky taste all that much better. Now, if only I had a lake, a floating chair, and a cooler with more...Lunch over with, it was on to the rest of the day. Got pretty hot with the sun beating down. It was probably only 65 or 70, but felt like more. I was going through the water like it was my job. Stopped at every spring to fill up a Nalgene. The trail cruised down a ridgeline for most the day. Had good views to either side. Found some more trail magic just before another road. Some grocery bags hanging in a fallen tree full of snacks and capri-suns. So I took me one of each and had a little break in the shade. Craig and Sophie joined me at that point too. We left a note and trucked on. I had considered going farther today, but the chafe monster manifested itself, making it a painful walk the rest of the day. I keep trying lots of different remedies and clothing combos. Each thing solves one problem and creates another. Pretty frustrating if you ask me. The rest of me, feet included, are feeling good by this point, but the chafing is bringin' me down. I've started to consider trying a kilt, so more on that possibly later. The most amusing thing of the day was the miniature shelter on McQueen's Knob. It looks to be an old shelter, probably from back-in-the-day. Real short, probably slept one full grown human or a couple of midgets. It came with a register inside too, which made for an amusing read. The shelter reminded me of the scene in Spinal Tap when the miniature Stonehenge was lowered from the ceiling and little people came and danced around it. Then afterwards, there's an argument about what the measurement on the "Stonehenge drawing" was supposed to be - feet or inches. I pictured something like this when they built the shelter, though, probably they didn't have any midgets on McQueen's Knob.At any rate, I'm past the 20% mark and closing in on a quarter of the way to Big K. I'll celebrate by going into Damascus tomorrow and having a steak and probably a beer too.