Date: 2005-05-04
From: The Beauty Spot

To: Clyde Smith Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: scattered clouds

After I finally rolled out of bed this morning I slowly packed up my gear and moved on. It was 8;30 and I was feeling better. That night before though was a terrible night with multiple trips to the wood line. Bad water MUST have been my culprit. Water purification is important indeed. I learned this lesson once again the hard way. I set my water purification plan in concrete that day and this is how it went from then on. If it comes out of a spring that has a nice sandy bottom, I would drink it without purifying it. If the water runs on the surface I would treat it with what I had and If it was standing water (lake or pond) then I would boil it first. Some sources I would avoid all together. Boiling of the water does not have to come to a rolling boil, just enough to you see what is called "fish eyes", then it is safe in my opinion. I remember the water source I drank back on the trail before Erwin and believe that "it" was the source to my ailment. It was a surface stream flowing hard and clear. Problem is you never know where it comes from up-stream. There could have been a Farm or Pond just over the horizon above you, how can you tell unless you sought out the source. I used a Katadyn "Guide" hand pump in the beginning until I replaced it with a chemical mix called Aqui Mira. The hand pump was too heavy and the Aqui Mira extremely light, no brain'er there.       Aqui Mira required you to mix two chemicals in to a cap provided and let stand for seven minutes to activate, then add to your water and let sit for 20 minutes. The taste wasn't so bad and you could always add a drink mix if you would like. Drink mix was a good idea for me when the heat started to rise during the Summer months. It made consuming large quantities of water more palatable, more water equals better hydration. Better hydration equals more miles, it is as simple as that. I learned a long time ago while attending the "Northern Warfare Training Center" in Alaska, that water is the only fluid that controls the homeostasis of the body, in other words it makes all things equal. Obviously dehydration was a big issue on the trail and as I wrote earlier it was something that had to be constantly monitored.    This morning I was seriously dehydrated and had no desire to eat any breakfast. I moved on slowly after drinking as much water as I could. Around 2:30 I stopped for lunch finally at a really nice place just 3/4's of a mile North of Iron Mountain. I cooked a filling meal and had a real good yoga stretch. I could see my friend New Heart walking up the trail and I figured I would ask him to take my picture. I noted in my log just how warm and peaceful it was there, "This is why I am here", I wrote, "for this type of feeling". I moved on and finally stopped at the "Clyde Smith Shelter" and set up my tent. I learned from the others that Praying Mantis was ill as well and that he planned to take a few Zero days in Erwin. Evening came and we were all sitting around a fire. Fig and Just Visiting were there and Just Visiting (JV) and I were talking about some of the birds we saw along the trail. Two in particular , The "Scarlet Tanager" and the "Rose Breasted Gros Beak". The male Scarlet Taringer is a beautiful orange colored bird, a sight to see indeed. The Gros Beak was everywhere and I was more interested in finding out what it was called more then anything else. JV was extremely knowledgeable about birds. One other notable mention was the "Indigo Bunting" This male had a color blue that was unbelievable, you have to see it in the wild to know what I am trying to describe.   The others that were around the fire - Mr Ed (The fire starter that evening, thanks Ed) Coho, Roamer and Slick. Slick was from Florida and was Slack Packing South that day, she was a NOBO that leaped forward and walked back to where she got off the trail (you know, a section hiker...just kidding). She was being supported by her father and I believe was without most of her equipment that evening. She did not go as far as she intended to and was about to spend a cold night. Slack packing comes with its inherent risks, (travel light, freeze at night). Also that day I ran in to Noodle, Bottle Rocket and Hawkeye. Noodle was ahead of New Heart, his hiking partner, and the two were to meet up at a predesignated place "up the trail".   This was a nice area that they put the shelter in. No Privy and the water was about 400 yards away but, it was beautiful. I went 14.4 miles that day. Not bad for being ill and taking lots of breaks. I may have to add a day to my planned itinerary, I figured, because I was expecting to be further up the trail. Roan mountain (6285 feet) was coming up and I wanted to be closer for the summit crossing the next day. I missed my mark by 4.4 miles and the trail talk said the weather was going to turn bad, it sure did. I liked to get the big mountains over and done with early. Legs are the freshest in the morning and once your on top, it's all down hill from there.... What a lie that is... peace