Date: 2007-06-05
From: Overmountain Shelter

To: Mountain Harbour B&B
Miles today: 9.0

6/5 9 miles, 6 hours, $58It took me quite a while to get to sleep last night - I think I was too hot. It rained a bit and the bottom level of the barn is quite breezy. I could feel rain mist on my face from time to time. I woke up at 7am as the sectioners were clanking around and talking. I packed up and left without eating or saying goodbye, mainly because I¢m out of MoonPies, but also because noone talked to me. There were four high-school boys; I didn¢t expect them to talk to me. The two sectioners were my age, but on the other side of the barn. The rest of the random hikers were all in the loft.I saw yet another brown-checked ¢trail snake¢ this morning - I nearly stepped on him! He was already curled around to get out ofthe way by the time I saw him. Then about 30 seconds later - WHOOOSH! A wild turkey took off out of the scrub and flew across the trail about 15 feet in front of me. It got my heart going!The hike up Hump Mtn. was excrutiating. There was a 600' gain, which isn¢t so bad, except it was all out on a bald where you can see it going straight up. Very intimidating. It was also overcast and could¢ve started raining at any moment (Thank God it didn¢t). The worst part was the wind tearing across the mountains! It must¢ve been 40 mph, continuously. It caused me to hold my poles way out to the side to prevent me from blowing off the trail! I did blow off for a few steps at one point, while my flapping pack cover beat me on the back of my head. It was exhausting, and I was moaning out loud every time I exhaled. I had to sit down under a rock just to get out of that wind for a few minutes. I was sure glad to get to the other side of the mountain, out of the wind.After cresting Hump Mtn. and being in the sun a lot today, it was basically all downhill to the highway. I got to the little Apple House shelter around 2pm and took a shoes-off short break. All I could think about was steak and cold, blue Gatorade.I went the .8 to the hostel, nearly being blown over again today by the two semi trucks that went by. I took a shower, turned in my stanky laundry, and took a nap on the sofa. About 5:30 I hit the Times Square Diner and had a big plate of salad, a 14oz sirloin, mashed potatoes, green beans, and Texas toast. I ate for a steady hour. I staggered out of there and Terry waited for me to pick up a few things at J¢s market. The only kind of handy-wipes they had were in a big 80 count tub. I hope I don¢t regret passing on that. When I got back, my clean laundry had been delivered! This is an impeccably maintained hostel with real mattresses, sheets, quilts and pillows, YES, pillows on the beds. The bunkhouse is over a horse barn, so there are some flies around. Four of the beds are unfortunately up in the attic. Overcautious people my age would rather avoid the eight step ladder, especially with a 30 pound pack attached to our backs. There¢s always SOMETHING I can find to whine about! Honestly, after seeing sooo many nice hostels, Neel¢s Gap is a disgrace. When I stayed there the sink in the bathroom was out of order. People were washing their shitty hands and spitting toothpaste in the kitchen. So many people claim there are mice there that now I think it wasn¢t a person keeping me awake rattling food wrappers and eating all night.Anyways, its 9pm and just me and one other girl here. Should be a good night.Thankful for: cleanliness.