Date: 2007-06-08
From: Mountaineer Shelter

To: Kinkora Hostel
Miles today: 15.1

I wake up early, eating some oatmeal. I press on, and find that the ladies are just barely north of me on the Trail! Last night, they feared they would need to hike around another mile to find a good tenting spot, mentioned in Wingfoot. As it turned out, the ground above was level enough, where all of them were able to pitch their tents!The Trail continues to be the easiest section thus far. Is it going to be like this all the way into Virginia? I come upon the intersection where I turn off for Abby's Place. In Wingfoot, it says to go left at Laurel Fork Creek, following a blue-blaze. A few hundred feet before the creek, Abby, apparently, has erected a new sign, stating the mileage to Springer and Katahdin! Signs like this put a smile on my face. I follow the blaze down to Abby's, where I meet a kindly old man, whose health is obviously withering away. Despite this, he is happy as can be, and kind as can be. He tells me his Trail Name is "Van Go", since, "I have my van outside there, and I GOOOOO!" Inside, I eat a pint of ice cream (or a quart?), meet the actual "Abby" (I can't recall if that was his real name, or just his Trail Name) and get some necessary supplies to get me into Virginia. Abby is also kind enough to let me use the computer in the bunkhouse to check my email!After all of this, I head back to the Trail. This time, I follow the creek back to the Trail, a type of "blue-blazing" which I'm not opposed to for myself. Not too far down (2.5-miles), I cross Hardcore Cascade. I stop for a candy bar, and am startled by another hiker, to whom I offer a candy bar. He declines, asking me about the terrain. I tell him that I've been hiking since May 9, and that, to me, this section is rather easy, but that I'm also not the best judge, due to the time I've been out here!I press on, and notice that my left shin is sore. Is this a dreaded shin-splint? Having never had one, I can't tell for sure; but, what else could it be? I press on, and the pain slowly exacerbates with each footstep. I acclimate, an learn how best to walk, causing the least amount of pain. I come to Moreland Gap Shelter, where I pause for a short break. I stretch, hoping this will relieve some of the pain. But, how do I stretch my shin? I lay on my back, and point my toes as best I can, resulting in excruciating pain. It is 6.1-miles to Dennis Cove Road, with Kinkora Hostel being just .2-miles down the road. If this pain doesn't lessen, I might find myself at this legendary location after all!I press on, climbing White Rocks Mountain, which is tree covered, with scattered boulders about. I come to a trail intersection for Coon Den Falls. This is one of those moments where I wish I had started in March of April, affording me the time to take these spur trails. Also, I'm in such pain right now, where adding extra mileage, thus extra pain, isn't feasible or desirable.I hike on for 1.7-miles more to the Road. It is steep and rocky in many places, and I find myself cursing many times, due to the pain in my leg. I really wished it would subside, I can do the 25.8-miles I had planned for today! I don't want to delay my arrival in Damascus! I want to get into a new state! But, I remember the wisdom I learned back near Hiawassee, Georgia, "Listen to your body. Only then can you finish this hike."At Dennis Cove Road, I am completely convinced that I am completely incapable of hiking on for 10-more-miles, to Watauga Lake Shelter. I can't even hike the 1.9-miles more to the next shelter, Laurel Fork! So, I unhappily head up the highway to Kinkora. Well, it's not terribly "unhappy", as I was sad that I was going to have to bypass this legendary place. Upon arriving, I meet two guys from Brevard, North Carolina. They started in Damascus, and are hiking either to Fontana Dam or to Springer Mountain, I can't remember which (maybe just to Newfound Gap, as that has easy access to Brevard). We hang out a good while, before the kind owner, Bob Peoples, takes me into town where I get food and a pizza!Back at the hostel, I meet Midget Mom, a kind lady in her 30s, I'm guessing, who's section hiking the A.T. I love meeting people like this who are out hiking! She's just taking it easy, taking a few days off here before pressing on to Damascus, which is her destination for this leg of her section hike. Come night time, I eagerly find myself a bed in the upstairs bunkbed room, and sleep soundly, hoping that my leg is feeling better in the morning, such where I can hike on.