Date: 2009-03-22
From: Standing Indian Mt. Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 19.7
Weather: clear sky

19.7 miles today--our longest yet! The last few nights have been cold in the shelters. Apart from packing the shelters like sardines to stay warm (Prairie Dog even slept at our feet last night), I've been wearing my gloves, down jacket, and balaclava. Made a fire tonight at the shelter--we're all huddled around it. Everyone from the last few nights is here--we all did 20 today, but a few are going into Franklin to resupply tomorrow. We've had the trails mostly to ourselves. It seems like we are in the middle of two large groups of hikers. There are about 8-10 other folks camping down hill from the shelter tonight as well. We've been making excellent time and covering a good deal of ground--in fact, we've passed a bunch of folks who left Springer several days before us. The weather's been great and the trail dry. The trails have been well maintained so far and we see trail crews every few days clearing deadfalls and widening eroded trails. at lower elevations there are lots of trees (duh) and springs coming out of the sides of trails (and the bottoms of trees). At higher terrain, the trail is rocky and surrounded by mountain laurel and rhodedendron. Some of the trails are completely covered by the rhodies, which is a really neat feeling--like we're walking through a long green tunnel.Lots of great views, but the photos don't do them justice with trees in the way. The footing has been tough at points though, especially on down hills and I've rolled or caught myself from rolling an ankle several times a day. I've also picked up a few blisters. I've definitely picked up my hiker appetite--had two bowls of oatmeal for breakfast, 3 granola bars for 2nd breakfast ("I don't think they know about 2nd breakfast..."), and was still hungry. And I even had my last awful mountain house insta-meal and finished the whole thing. I'm feeling good, except for my feet. it's 8:30 and everyone's turning in (hiker midnight). Generally we finish hiking between 4 and 5 pm, cook dinner, hang bearbags, chat, write, read and are in bed by 8/9. Up at 4:30 am--toss and turn until 6 or 7, and hiking by 8 or 9. The views and trails in NC have been great, but sometimes the switchbacks and trails on the ridges give me a feeling of deja-vu. I was a little bored for one stretch and was hiking alone (if I'm with folks we sign, chat, fantasize about what we're going to eat in town), so I listened to Dan Reeder and The Boss to pass the time. The trails are generally silent except for some bluejays in the morning, male partridges, and some other bird that makes a sound like two trekking poles clinking together, and woodpeckers. No leaves yet, but there are buds getting ready to bloom, although we can see trees in bloom when looking into towns or orchards from higher elevations. We are mostly between 3300 and 4500 feet, although we hit 5200 today. Biggest climb today was 400 ft. up, over 3/10's of a mile (Albert Mt., aka known as Fat Albert) and Big Butt Mt. (that's it's real name) to a fire tower. Beautiful views but a hell of a climb. Ketchup had an amazing nose bleed this evening which was incredibly entertaining for everyone else. He's sleeping on the picnic table at the shelter tonight. In the shelter are Knuckles, Chuckles, Check 6, Old Goat, and myself. Tomorrow we camp/hike in the balds. Only 15 miles tomorrow.