Date: 2003-05-02
From: Ash Gap

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 0.0

Sitting in frot of a fire at a tent site over Mountain Falls approximately 10 miles north of US 19 at Elk Park. Apparently I have left NC behind forever on this journey. I have spent 40 days and 40 nights out here. When I woke at Roan Mtn. Shelter the skies were clear and sun was coming through the dense pine groves igniting the mist. The last few days of NC have been wonderful! It is like I am walking through the set of The Hobbit, or Lord of the Rings. I attached all my wet clothes to my pack and hiked out to a parking area, about 2 miles out, looking like a human clothes rack. I ran into Trucker and Bingo at the parking lot. Trucker has a bet with another thru-hiker that he will make it all the way into Damascus VA without having to dig a hole so he was very happy to find a privy enroute. I was also pleased at the find! So up I went over one of the three grassy open knolls (balds) that I would travel that day. I met a couple and asked them to take my picture at the summit. They asked a question I had never heard before, "So is this a hobby for you?". I explained it was a one-time deal! The rest of their questions were typical for folks meeting up with thru-hikers. On I went, winding my way up and down craggy, awful places with roots and rocks that threw my knees one way and my ankles the other. I got to a shelter and lunched with Fox, Frank and Odyssey. Rains came as soon as I finished eating but fortunately the showers were brief. I got to The Barn - a really cool shelter that was an old barn used by Tennessee and NC irregulars during the Rev. War - mountaineers, they were called. They whupped the Brits! I turned down an offer to ride into town for beer with a couple of day hikers because I needed to get on into Bland. A huge climb over an entire grassy ridge was next. So beautiful - I thought I was in Ireland! At the summit my jaw dropped as Big Hump lay just beyond. Massive. I started over and could swear the wind could blow me down. I cannot begin to describe the beauty. An absolute sight to behold. On I treked. Then another descent through an ankle and knee killing trail that only NC can provide. I got through a cool, craggy part and it started getting dark, my knees were killing me, as were my ankles, and I was tired, hungry and dehydrated. I moved on to the shelter and was greeted with beer and Green Man and Mongoose, an Anniston native and quite a character. Fox, Odyssey, Garren, Sniper and ______ had gotten beer from town and it was chilling in a stream. I got water, stretched, ate and drank 2 and hung out. In the a.m we left the Apple House Shelter headed .5 mile to the road to hitch into town for breakfast. We had breakfast (huge biscuits) and I used the phone, ate some ice cream, then back to the Trail. My hike was slow and awful. I needed to go a minumun of 8 miles but really wanted to get in good striking distance of Dennis Cove. I went slow, but steady. Beautiful area and I got some good pictures. By 6 p.m. I was sick as a dog for some reason, by 7 I was spent, so I walked up to a lonely little level spot near a watershed and started to make camp. I suddenly badly did not want to be alone. I have camped alone once and do not fear it as much, but I was suddenly overcome with anxiety about camping alone tonight. I thought for half a moment about pressing on, then I realized the futility and went about my night routine. Then I heard voices. I couldn't believe it! I went back to the winding narrow passage (blue blaze) leading off the trail and not only did I see hikers coming up, but it was Trucker and Bingo, along with Bayou(?)! I was elated and told them so. I showed them the pathetic few uneven rooty spots there were to set up their tents. They began to make camp while I began to make a fire. This took about 2 hrs as rain had soaked us all afternoon, but I was not going to spend a night cold and wet if I could help it. I managed a decent fire in most challenging and wet circumstances!