Date: 2013-05-06
From: Blackbear resort

To: campsite 
Miles today: 3.8
Weather: moderate rain

My mom dropped me Baily and Double Nickel off at the AT crossing. The plan was to meet her at Iron Mt. Shelter. She would hike south 4 miles to get to there. I started down the trail around the lake but soon had to turn around because the lake had covered large areas of the trail. Double Nickel and I followed the road and turned right on another smaller road. This day was not starting out right. There was a trail leading off into the forest but after 50 ft it was flooded out too. I finally got to the AT and hiked for a good 15 min before I came to another washed out piece. I could see the trail on the other side so I bushwhacked through the thick forest and around a ditch through tons of spider webs and finally back to the trail. Wow, a whole hour of hiking and I'd hardly done a mile. I stopped at Watauga lake shelter to have a a snack and look at my map. It looked like 16 miles today only about 2 done so far. I left and meandered on the trail by the lake I saw 3 monarch butterflies flopping on the ground next to the shore as if they could not fly. I tried helping them but they fluttered into the lake. I soon came to the road leading to the dam. I didn't realize I got to walk across another dam. It sprinkled for about 10 min then the sun came back out. The AT was poorly marked on the road so I was constantly on the lookout for the next white blaze. I struggled up the next hill pausing for lunch. Bailey barked at Sherlock and Circuit Rider as they passed.   I came to another road which surprised me and I thought it was the same road I had walked on earlier. It was not, as I found out when a truck whizzed by Baily and I standing on the side of the road. I crossed and the following sign let me know. I hiked on and on til Baily knew I wasn't where I thought I was. I thought I was much farther along but it turned out that I was going rather slow. I continued up but my back really hurt so I rested often at one point I cried because it hurt so bad and I realized I probably wouldn't make it to my mom at Iron mt shelter before dark. Bailey and I sat for half an hour before getting back up. It was a beautiful day, I had my dog, what was I stressing about? I hiked on until Baily started barking we'd come upon Sherlock and Circuits Riders camp. They were cooking coffee or tea and were about to make dinner. Baily just barked and even when I walked away she still didn't come. I think she was barking for food. She ran back to them even after we had finally walked away for a minute. Bailie's behavior was frustrating me even more. We got to the Vanderventer shelter at 7. There was a guy there but he seemed odd. Baily had no dog food because it was with my mom. I had trail mix and perky jerky and gave some perky to Baily. It has guarani in it so it gives a little boost. We hiked for 3.8 more miles because I wanted to close the gap between my mom and I so Baily wouldn't go spastic in the morning without food. I hiked through dusk praying God don't let that light go down just yet. I got to a water source and campsite just as I needed my headlamp. I set up my tent in the dark and I was completely alone. This would b my first night sleeping without other people nearby. You'd think I wouldn't be scared because I had my dog but she made me more scared because she jumped and looked scared at every little twig snap. I didn't cook dinner but got right in bed. I awoke at 8 and just after I went to the bathroom, I heard my mom whistle for Baily. Boy was I glad to see her! She had cooked pizza last night so I ate that for breakfast while Baily scarfed down dog food. My cold pizza was delicious! I wish I could've been there to watch her cook pizza. I packed up my tent and back pack telling my mom of the flooded lake adventures. We got going around 9:30