Date: 2013-04-03
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: broken clouds

What a day! But first, the news from last night. The Forest Rangers did show up around 11 last night to get Dwayne. One of the other hikers had to locate Dwayne first, though! The Rangers had taken 2 hours to come up in a service vehicle to transport him down the mountain. Wow. I made it out of camp by 9 today. Today's hike was more of logs to step over, streams to cross and some nice down hills. All good things must come to an end though..and there was Albert Mountain. After seeing the almost vertical profile in AWOL's book of this mountain, I had decided that I would take the blue blaze trail that went around it. I'm hiking along and come to a trail that breaks off to the right of the AT. Is this the blue blaze? I was in a real dilemma. There were no blue blazes, but that's not uncommon. I decided that I was better off on the known trail, so kept going..up and up and up. I kept looking down at that little trail wondering if I had made the right decision. I decided that if this was climbing Albert Mountain, then so be it. Up and up and over boulders, the drop off was getting steeper and the trail was getting less wide. At one point, I came to a gorgeous view, but decided to not take a picture as I would get some wonderful pictures from the fire tower on top of the mountain, so kept on hiking. Suddenly, there was a break in the trees and what do I see? The fire tower..a good distance away! I rounded a curve in the trail, and there were blue blazes; as well as a road!! Dog Walker and his dog, Trail Dog, were having lunch on the side of the road, so I asked him if the blue blazes were for the trail around Albert Mountain. He confirmed that it was as he had just hiked Albert Mountain a few weeks ago. When he said he was taking the blue blaze, I asked if I could join him. He turned out to be another Trail Angel as there would have been no way I could have found that trail. It was not marked! Once back onto the AT, it was a pleasant hike all the way to Long Branch Shelter. As this was a brand new shelter, I hiked down to check it out. It was only 2:30, so I signed the register and left a note for HeadButt and Firefly to let them know that I was going to the next shelter. 3.6 miles later I am in Rock Gap shelter. Another 12 mile day! There is a great piped stream for water, but you have to cross a stream to get to the privy. Will make night visits interesting! One of the women in the shelter is Little SaS. It turns out that I had been reading her journal on trailjournals.com before I left. She was planning a stay at the Aquone Hostel for Thursday. We were hiking about the same pace and I had read great things about this hostel, so I decided to change my reservations from the Microtel to Aquone. Fortunately, they had a bed available! I've heard that there is rain in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. HeadButt and Firefly stopped by and decided to call for a shuttle to pick them up tonight at a campground .1 of a mile away. HeadButt took my information to forward my mail drop from the Budget Inn on to NOC. She even agreed to go to Three Rivers outfitters and forward the one waiting there! Trail Angels! Tomorrow I'll have a hot shower, laundry done, and a wonderful meal waiting for me at the end of 9 miles! One more day on the AT!