Date: 2012-05-16
From: Big Meadows ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Campsite - Tented

To: Gravel Springs HutÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ - Tented
Miles today: 31.5
Weather: broken clouds

Day 52 - Wednesday, May 16thHiking Days 39 / Nero Days 9 /  Zero Days 4Start Location: Big Meadows  Campsite - TentedMile Marker: 918.5Ending Location: Gravel Springs Hut - TentedMile Marker: 950.0Time: 11h 05min Miles: 31.5Weather: lightning show last night but only a touch of rain.  Warmer, more humid but still not as warm as it was supposed to be.  60-62 in the morning then sunny 78. A slight breeze. My goal was to get up early and make a dash to Skyland to grab some breakfast on the lodge there.  Have a craving for eggs.  With the lodge opening for the season later today, staying here was not an option.  Need to be on the trail by 6:00 to make sure I get there by 9:00 since they stop serving breakfast at 10:00. Up at 5:00. Actually got up at 5:15 since there was no real light yet to see by.  My headlamp is dead.  Got packed up by the shadows mostly.  Went out to get my food bag out if the bear box.  The guy was already up bringing my bag over to me.  He remained very odd about using that box.  He had his stuff scattered all over it but it was really odd how he was acting.  He was a rather lazy hiker and was in the campsite for a few days so for him to get up to make sure I didn't go in the box was very odd. I hit the trail Exactly at 6:00.  I listened to music do help get me rolling.  The trail was rocky with slight ups and downs.  I arrived at Skyland in good time, 8:25.  Made it in 2 hours and 25 minutes.  That left me plenty of time for breakfast.  Saw a cash machine so I got some cash before I forgot to get it for my stops ahead.  I went to the bathroom, washed my hands, and up to to the dining room.  Its odd how nice it was to wash my hands with soap.  Got a great table next to the window.  I was surprised they sat me at such a premium table.  Got my coffee.  Ordered an omelette with potatoes and toast.  Was going to order something else but the server indicated that the omelette was large and he recommended that I should wait to order more since he would doubt I would even finish half of it.  Really.  So it came.  It was the largest omelette I ever had.  He expressed such joy when he placed it in front of me.  "see" he said with a gleeful tone.  I replied "it's a good start." He said a few more things about how full I'm going to be.  It was gone in no time.  I actually found myself moaning while I was eating.  I hung on to the menu so it was easy to place my next order.  2 eggs, bacon, cinnamon roll.  Nice finish.  After breakfast I sat on the lobby a bit to recharge my phone.  No wall outlets but I found a covered flood outlet.  I knew how to get to it and once I did I charged my phone.  Got up to 80%.  Good enough for now.  Spent nearly two hours there.  It was a great stop.  This was the first time here and that was only because Big Meadows was closed.  I think it was a touch nicer then Big Meadows.  Once back on the trail I decided to continue listening to my tunes.  This was really the first time I played them so long.  I figured I could recharge it again at the Wayside When I get there.  I stopped at birds-nest #3. No entry from Stinger or Dundee.  I must have passed them.  Talked to a couple who were hanging there.  Nice couple.  Ran into 2 other couple who once they saw my tattoo, wanted to talk about the AT.   Once I hit the spot I was supposed to be stopping at and it was only 2:30, I knew I needed to go further.  I looked at my phone and realized that I forgot to switch my phone to airplane mode.  I was now down to less the 20% battery life so I had to turn off my music.  The wayside was about another seven miles and the next shelter was about 13 more.  Wasn't sure how far I was going to get but I skipped my originally planned stop.  Once at the wayside I knew I could charge my phone. As I pushed on I came across the first bear I actually saw and not just heard.  The largest bear I've ever seen, either in a zoo or in the wild. I am guessing that it was about 800 pounds.  It was up about 50 feet, saw me, stood up on its hind legs making it look incredibly huge, turned and went into the brush.  I actually heard another bear a bit further but never saw much of it.  There was water in about three miles and then again in five or so.  I was  completely out of water but three miles was nothing.  When I arrived I found a mud hole.  I probably could have got water in one spot but stupied me, I shifted a rock when I stepped on it and then realized that it was upstream.  In just a few seconds, the disturbed dirt made its way into the puddle and ruined any hope of getting water there.  Thirsty, I pushed on.  When I got to the next source it was 0.6 off trail. No way was I going to do that.  The next stop was the wayside in two more miles.  I wasnt sure when it closed but I figured I would get there around 5:00. It would be a real bummer if it closes at 5:00.  As anticipated, I arrived at 5:05.  They close at 6:00.  Order a couple of burgers, fries, 2 candy bars, two gatorade drinks, coke, blackberry shake, roll all for the low low price of $32.  What a rip off but I knew that going onto the Shennies.  This stop was supposed to be breakfast tomorrow, but doing a bigger day than expected.  With it being 6:15 when I hit the trail, I should be able to make it the 6 miles to the next shelter by dark.  And that just what I did.  My left foot is hurting a lot.  Not sure if it is because of all the rocks and just swollen, or is my old hammer toe rearing it's ugly head.  Not sure.  Also my insole may be failing.  I think it has 2000 or so miles on it do perhaps it's time to change them.  Can't do it until Harpers Ferry though.  Bummer.  When I arrived, the group there was actually friendly.  Half section hikers and half AT hikers.  Checked out the tenting area but it was full.  I looked around and found one the other direction. With me coming in so late, everything was taken.  There was room in the shelter but with so many hikers I suspected there would be a lot of snoring.  The only thing that even resembled a space was a pushed down section of grass on a bed if rocks.  Fitting for the name of the area. Set up my tent, then hung my food bag.  Stayed around the shelter for a bit listening to all the hiker talk.  Went to bed around 9:00.  The group had some booze and it was kicking in.  Even as far away as I was I could here them talking.  Went to bed. My first 30+ day I have done this hike.  3 29's but my first 30.  Nice.