Date: 2004-05-10
From: Lynn Creek Camp

To: Jenkins Shelter
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: overcast clouds

I write this journal to the sound of snoring. I am the only one awake after another long day. I awoke and hit the trail prepared to hike 27 miles... HA! (it didnt happen). My day started at 7am as I greeted "Hobbit" and "Mailman" the 2 hikers I was next to at campl last night. Neither mysef or they were in a talking mood, so after only a few words, I departed.I hiked 4 HUGE miles, all uphill, to the top of Chestnut Knob. It was tough, but nice. There were not many flowers but the greenery was pleasant and I went by a nice pond. By 9 am I was in Chustnut Knob Shelter. In the shelter I wrote a poem to Krispy and the gang, I miss hiking with them I also met "Crash Bang", a seemingly outgoing (mildly crazy) hiker in his 30s. Apparently a naked female hiker (probly "LL Fuzzy") hiked by him at 10:30 last night. Maybe I should have pushed on I hiked from the shelter after my break and over a steep downhill. At the bottom I ran into "Pokey" and she let me use her pump to help me get water. We also saw 2 workers setting gypsy moth traps. They gave us Beer (Natty Light)... I had 2 (oops!). Apparently, as I would find out, the next 8 miles had no water. The map said the trail would be flat, but did not mention "boring, slanted, rocky, and waterless"... ugh! As I pushed on the temperature rose and my will slowly crumbled, yet I trudged on. After 6 miles I was beat, I needed water, was feeling the beer, and I had seen no flowers (although other hikers tell me they were everywhere). I put my pack on the ground and collapsed into sleep there on the side of the trail (zzz).When I awoke I felt only mildly better and I pushed 2 more miles. Still dehydrated and tired. When I reached the water source I wanted to cry due to delirious happiness! I drank 2 liters right away and then pushed on to Jenkins Shelter.At Jenkins I found Socks, Crash Bang, Mailman, Hobbit and NTN (No Trail Name) waiting. As I saw the approaching thunder I happily called it a day and joined the other hikers to whine about the "flash section". After a few minutes we got it out of our system and proceed with life. Crash-Bang is loud and socks is funny... near each other they're hillarious. Socks is 50 and I met her 2 hours into day 1 as "Jane". We keep meeting off and on and joke about our "relationships"... its fun.Mailman and I laughed as we failed miserably in attempts to hang out food away from the critters. Slowly everyones depression faded in the midst of the jovial conversation. Hobbit and I talked about the flowers we've seen and Socks and I told stories of "Grizzly Dave". We all shared experiences and spent a great deal of time laughing, despite the hot grinding day.Before nightfall I managed to finally hang my food, we saw a big toad just outside of the shelter, and I visited the privy. This is the most psychadelic privy ever! Someone pointed a large mouth glowing around the toilet with the words "Feed me". It was wicked! I fed it, and found myself smiling as I went to bed.Some Final Thoughts...1. Water is more hydrating than beer!2. People make this trail what it is and sharing pain together can actually lead to joy.3. Everyday my trail friends become more of my family... they help when I miss my family at home (I love you Mom).4. Maybe I should hike naked... maybe not.5. I feel like a wimp because I "only hiked 16 mile"... HAHA! 1 year ago I would have fainted after walking half of that distance.6. I'm really pumped to wait tables as a 3 day job this weekend. Tomorrow I hit "Bland, Va"... woo-hoo, sounds exciting. Until then, God bless. -BEATBOX ttt