Date: 2004-06-01
From: VA 60 Salt Log Gap 

To: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: scattered clouds

¢Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit.¢ There, now I will have good luck for another month!After a good nights¢ sleep (more like an unconscious nights¢ sleep¢I don¢t think I ever moved once my head hit the pillow!), I spent the morning making phone calls, cleaning and repacking gear, shopping for groceries, going to the Post office, etc. At 12 o¢clock I was dropped off at the Trailhead by ¢Mr. Williams¢, a local retiree who shuttles hikers to the Trail without ever asking for anything in return (although, he did accept a contribution towards the gas, after I pointed out how much gas prices had increased lately).I had lunch in the BOBshine, on a picnic table at Long Mountain Wayside where Mr. Williams dropped me off after which I packed up and headed out¢and up. I started out on the initial 2,000¢climb there, lying in the middle of the Trail, was a totem for me¢a gift obviously laid out there for me to find¢the largest feather I have ever seen! Over 18 inches long with a quill of about a 14 of an inch in diameter, it obviously came from a VERY large bird: perhaps a vulture, or a wild turkey or maybe even an eagle. Whatever the source, I accepted this gift from nature as an omen of goodness and strength, and I picked it up with the with hope that it would enable me to fly up over the mountains ahead.After reaching the summit the Trail then descended 500¢ before heading back upwards. But all my effort was rewarded as I came to the grass covered top of Cold Mountain, which on this sunny clear afternoon offered unobstructed views in every direction. The summit had a rolling crest. I must have spent about an hour there taking pictures and watching the breeze toss the tassels of the tall grasses into shimmering waves that swept up one knoll and then another; rising and falling like ocean waves. I passed the old stone a small house surrounded by degraded fence posts in the woods near the summit and I couldn¢t help but pretend that this was THE Cold Mountain, of the namesake book, ¢Cold Mountain,¢ where Inman and his love spent their one night together¢¦(ahh! it¢s great being a romantic and free the let the lines between fiction and reality blur whenever the occasion fitting!)I walked easily and unhurriedly for the next couple of hours which included a mile back-tracking after realizing that my favorite bandana/sweat towel (the one that says in bold letters ¢Hiker to Town¢ on one side and on the other ¢Hiker to Trail¢ which makes hitch-hiking a whole lot easier!) had fallen from my belt. Unfortunately, I didn¢t find it ¢¢ WILSON, COME BACK!¢ (Recalling the scene in the movie ¢Castaway,¢ starring Tom Hanks when his volleyball drifted away from him in the scene where he makes a raft to finally leave the island, and was saddened by the loss of his trusted pretend friend) About 5 o¢clock, I decided I would stretch out my mileage and set my sights on making it to the Seeley-Woodworth Shelter before nightfall. This meant covering 5 12 miles in just a little over two hours. Even though I was very intent on my stride and pace as I headed towards the Shelter, I didn¢t miss the beauty of the dancing, back lit ferns that completely covered the forest floor exposing me to mile upon mile, of swaying green arms waving me on in the evening breeze.Upon arriving at the Shelter, ¢Rocket¢, ¢Mouse¢, ¢Slowpoke¢ and ¢Andrew¢, all Thru Hikers made room for me. I then cooked a delicious dinner of instant mashed potatoes and dehydrated beef stew. After eating and brushing my teeth I am now almost half asleep. Although I recorded 14 miles today on the Appalachian Trail, my actual distance walked was 16 miles when you include my search for my ¢WILSON¢. So I have reason to expect a good night¢s sleep is in store.