Date: 2003-03-28
From: Waterville School Road

To: Mt. Cammerer Lookout
Miles today: 7.6

I had my first encounter with mice last night. Or at least I think I did. Sleeping in Mt. Cammerer Lookout, I woke up when what I thought was mouse ran across my (thankfully) hatted head. Then I thought it might have just been my hat or something else attached to my pack that had fallen onto my head. Later though, I'm pretty sure a mouse was sitting on my (thankfully STILL hatted) head, chewing on something. I swished at my head and tucked myself farther down into my bag, being careful not to suffocate myself. A delicate operation when you want to hide your face from the mice and yet get fresh air. In daylight, I checked my belongings, and nothing was missing or knawed upon. No harm, no foul.We awoke before sunrise, and waited for the sun to come up. I, once again, climbed out on the rocks, and watched to see if the sun could rise above the clouds before the clouds reached me. The sun won, by far! Sunrise was pretty good, but mostly the view of the mountains was the gorgeous part. It was the same mountains I looked at last night at sunset, but it didn't seem old or repetitive at all.Lite Shoe left early, probably around 7am because she was headed to Mountain Momma's for breakfast. Hotdog and I got back out to the AT from the sidetrail around 8am...one of my earliest starts, if not the earliest. The trail was all downhill to Davenport Gap and we were moving along at about 3mph. Our frequent breaks somehow allow us to make the day longer than the mileage dictates, but I enjoy the breaks, even if it means sitting is grass right next to Interstate 40.Before that break, Hotdog and I met members of the Carolina Mountain Club working on the AT. Thank you for your trail work!!! The trail after Davenport Gap was beautiful, running alongside and crossing a creek. In the Smokies, there weren't many creeks or springs, except at the shelters. Of course, the trail followed the ridges, and that's not usually where the springs are found. I thought leaving the Smokies would be a memorable occasion, but it wasn't. No big signs proclaiming "Northbounders, you just passed the Smokies!" We just continued walking.Dog and I met up with Slow Ride, Dindee, and Lance as we were taking a break by I-40, and walked with them for just a bit, until we turned off to head to Standing Bear Farm hostel. Jan came along shortly after. This place is cool! Curtis is quite laid back, and Maria is a great host too. Everything us hikers need is outdoors, including washer/dryer, laptop with free internet access, showers, privy, refrigerator, microwave, radio, electric burners. All are covered and some surrounded by a deck, built by Curtis. There's a cabin with 4 beds, plus a bunkhouse and teepee. Shoe, Dog and I took over the cabin. All lodging is the same price and is first come-first served. We've all showered and laundry is in the works. Curtis and Maria also own a Mexican/Bluegrass restaurant in nearby Cosby, TN. Maria is working there tonight and said she'd take us along, but we'd have to stay until she did. I think we're leaning toward that, so we have to be ready to go by 4:30. They h! ave some resupply here, but we haven't seen exactly what they have yet. Like I said, they're laid back. Curtis has said, more than once "There's plenty of time." It was 12:30 when Dog and I arrived, so I guess he's right. Although, I'd planned on resupply here and don't have any more snacks or quick eatables and don't feel like cooking anything when "real food" is so near. Dog is sharing his snacks with me so I don't starve to death. Whattaguy! Maybe he's just thanking me for keeping him from falling off the mountain once or twice. :-)We just got back from the restaurant. Sonic and Iguana joined us, as they'd arrived just before we had to leave. The food was great! I'd been craving chips and chili con queso so much, that going into Gatlinburg, I'd written in the shelter registers for two days that I'd hoped there was a Chili's there. (There wasn't, so Dog, Smooth Navigator, Fly By Night and I are still in search.) What I had last night was enough to tide me over for a few days though. The Bluegrass band, Grassy Ridges, was good, except for one song "Rocky Top", which, being a Gator I'm not allowed to say I like. However, since I've climbed Rocky Top (the mountain the song was written about)I have a different view of that song.The restaurant doesn't serve alcohol, but Maria stopped at a store so we could purchase some if we wanted it. Apparently, you can brown bag your drinks there...everyone was doing it. That's much different than I'm used to! It was interesting to see the locals, and I think we all had a good time. We left around 10pm, which is late for us hikers, especially since some of us got up to see sunrise yesterday.