Date: 2003-04-24
From: Damascus Zero Day

To: Lost Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 42 Avg Mls/Day 11.3Weather: Pleasant Mostly to Partly Cloudy...some sun High in mid 60'sWell, I kind of screwed up today. I got up at 5:30; was out of the hotel by 6:15; ate a quick breakfast and used the ATM at Cowboy's and was on the Trail NOBO out of town before 7. The idea was to do a long day today since the weather is supposed to be bad (rainy) tomorrow. In other words, hike as much as possible in the nice weather and do whatever I want tomorrow in the rain. If I could go 21 miles today, I could enjoy Whitetop Mountain with some views and go on to Thomas Knob Shelter to make it a 28 mile day. The morning went well; there was a register early on and I was the first NOBO out today. I knew Eli wasn't starting until after 9 but figured Charlie, who I'd seen in town, would get an early start. I did hike by myself all day. I guess the Trail sort of paraelles Route 58 as it crosses it several times. It also runs near and becomes part of the Iron Mountain Trail...an old railroad bed that is now used for bicycles and hiking. I passed Saunders Shelter after 3+ hours and did not drop in since it was .25 miles off the Trail. That would be an extra half mile on the day. The Trail ran along a large beautiful river for some time. Ran into Dag, Mag and Fireball "slacking" back to Damascus. Mule, who told me last night he was going to join them, stayed in town to rest after his 28 mile day yesterday. I stopped for lunch near a pond at 11:30. The dilemma began about 1:30 as I was contemplating buzzing by the next shelter in order to get to Thomas Knob Shelter (28 miles) by dark. Got to Lost Mountain Shelter at about 1:45 and there was Liteshoe sitting at the picnic table, settled in. Although we had never met, we knew each other from the internet. We got to talking and I decided to stay here for the night. I thought it would be nice to meet Liteshoe and I figured Charlie and Eli would be along later. We got to talking and were both using our pocketmails and at about 4 p.m. here comes Charlie. He had a great breakfast at the hostel. He had purchased a new pack in Damascus and it is 4 pounds lighter.   He decides to settle in the shelter too due to the weather forecast. Not long after that two section hikers, Free Radical and Stray, show up and I'm wandering if I made the right decision. A little later 4 young men show up, Blazin J, Notes, Bubalooga and the last one whose name I didn't get. Bubalooga had this great black lab german shephard mix dog with him. We had a great campfire and the event of the evening was Notes attempt to photograph a mouse eating GORP at night. He says that photography is his profession. So, he leaves the GORP out and waits to hear the mouse eating...then snaps the shot. I think I saw the flash go off at least twice. We'd better not have mice running over us in the shelter looking for more GORP.I forgot to mention that another young lady hiker arrived, Trailfrog. She had actually started earlier but had to go home for a couple of weeks to take care of some personal business. We all had a good time sitting around the campfire and talking. I started to comment on my gear day before yesterday. I don't want to forget to mention my Patagonia Stretch Top (I think that's what it's called) from REI. I heard about it through Footslogger and it may be my most valuable piece of clothing. It's my warm top and I wear it as a long sleeve to restaurants when in town. Not too heavy and doesn't take up too much room in the pack. Worth the $100+.Thought for the Day: Plans change....it won't be the last time.