Date: 2012-05-24
From: Catawba Mountain Shelter

To: Daleville
Miles today: 17.8
Weather: overcast clouds

My throat feels scratchy this morning. I suspect the spring I stopped at last night. It had a screen over it with a couple large holes in it. An animal could have crawled in there and died. It was dark out and I didn't look inside. I washed up in that water and filled my bottle there. When I got to the shelter I tasted the water and it seemed off so I dumped it out. Tarp water came through here before Trail Days and he was pretty sick. I wonder if he drank from that spring?My shoes are still wet so I decided to walk to Daleville in flip flops. I stopped to use the privy at the next shelter. While I was in there I discovered a tick on my inner thigh. It was a tiny one and the first I've noticed on me while hiking the AT. I got lost again for a short while along the edge of a rock face. I kept walking hoping to see a white blaze till the trail withered away, then I turned around and walked back. The AT isn't always the well worn path right in front of you. Sometimes it's the hidden trail that switches back 175 degrees. The white blaze was totally obvious coming from the other direction. A few miles down the trail I noticed a hiker in my review mirror. I figured I'd give him the slip and walk a little faster. To my surprise and frustration he continued to gain on me. He must like that feeling of passing other hikers (just like I do). Surely he's walking faster just so he can be ahead of me. I rounded a bend where he couldn't see me and started to run. When he see's all that empty trail in front of him he'll give it up. I ran for awhile then went back to my normal pace. To my horror he showed up right behind me a few minutes later. He had to have been running to catch me. I figured if this hotshot wants to set the pace I'll let him. But I won't let him slow down till we get to town. I let him pass but stayed right on his tail. He was obviously trying to shake me. I must admit it was fun. For 9 miles it was a jog/speed walk followed by moments of running downhill. It was a challenge to keep up with him in flip flops. The trail is so gnarly my eyes were constantly scanning for soft flat spots to plant my feet. The tunnel was going by in a blur. I could really get into trail running. He wasn't as strong as me on the uphills and offered to let me pass a couple times. I told him "you're setting a great pace, keep it up"! We stopped for a break a mile from town. His name is Bowser and he can move for a big boy. We decided to share a room at the Howard Johnson when we get to town. We walked a normal pace the last mile and due to his longer stride and will to win he passed me ; )We got to town pretty fast. At the Howard Johnson I told him that I was sore from trying to keep up with him. He admitted he was sore trying to stay in front of me.Some hikers will put people down for using the trail as a race track. I say do it your own way. Part of the experience is about getting in shape. Struggling to push the bar just a little further feels good to me. Early on I complained about trying to keep up with Sparrow, Blake, and Stray Bullet. I made excuses to justify walking slower. There is nothing wrong with walking slower and taking more time to walk the trail. Some people want to be the very last one to Katadin. The excuse that you see less if you go through it faster is baloney. Jennifer Davis saw more bear and moose the faster she went. She got on the trail early and kept walking till dark. Being out on the trail when other hikers are in camp is the best time to see them. There is nothing wrong with experiencing the trail either way or both in the same thru-hike! If I had a friend to slack pack me I would run more. The only reason we could do it today is we were both out of food.Speaking of food, tonight I made the mistake of going to the grocery store hungry. It's really bad if your a hiker and have to carry all that you buy out onto the trail. After a huge buffet at Shoney's I realized it.Other than that my feet feel good. I wear those things I made every night, but my thoat is still scratchy.