Date: 2009-10-21
From: Erwin TN

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

10/13/09 TuesdayThis morning we woke up to the smell of pancakes. We left the Cabin around 8:30. The ride to Damascus made me somewhat carsick. I was able to ge over it once we got to Damascus. I stoped at the Post Office and got all my packages . I was able to completly resupply with all the food I got in the packages also with some money which was awesome. Then I went to a cafe in twon to use the interenet since the Libary was close. I started walking around 1:00. I called home and talked to my Mom. I also took a wrong turn in town because the blaze were not clear after a .5 mile out of my way, I figured out that I was going the wrong ways. The trail was nice. I also realize that I forgot my Hikers Handbook. Tonight I am staying at Abingdon Gap Shelter. I finished John in my Bible Reading. I think the Book of John is my favorite account of Jesus. I also read some of my Answer's Magazine which my brother and some friends sent me!10/14/09 WednesdayThis morning I woke up to the Coldest weather I ever felt. It was raining and windy. I slept in and didn't get started till 10:00. I had my fleeze and my plastic rain coat but I still couldn't stay warm. I hiked as fast as I could to get to the next Shelter. I came to a Shack were I stopped for a little to warm up. It was about 40 degrees and raining and about 25mph wind. I went about 8 miles to the Double Springs Shelter. There I found my Hikers Handbook. Gooch knew that I forgot it in Damascus and brought it with him and left it at the shelter for me. I started reading Acts in my Bible. If it gets any colder I will have a frozen water bag tomorrow morning.10/15/09 ThursdayThis morning I woke up to the Sound of Rain rattiling the steel roof. I ate and started walking in the rain. It rained all day, nonstop. i was planning to eat Lunch at Iron Mtn. Shelter but there was a guy named Quatumn that I didn't trust, so I moved on. I ate lunch at the Shelter after that. I am staying at Watauga Lake Shelter. There are sings pasted there to warn about a bear problem. Non of the Shelters have priveys wich annoys me, especialy when it is raining a cold rain at that. I ate Lasagna tonight.and had Cheescake for dessert. Tomorrow looks like a short day into town. Im in Chapter 12 of Acts in my Bible reading.10/16/09 FridayThis morning I woke up early but slept in late. No bears bothered me at all. But the rain kept me from getting motovated to get hiking. Once I got started I kept going and didn't stop till I got to Laurel Falls. Laurel Falls was pretty big falls and looked amazing and Sound amazing. When I came to Dennis Cove Rd. I went to KinCora Hostel were I warmed up and ate my Lunch. Tonight Bod People's took us (Icrus, No$, Disney and Seamoster) to the Grocery store in Hampton to resupply. After we came back we ate spasgatty and had Oreal putting for dessert. Then we stayed up and played Risk, I think it will be my new favorite board game.10/17/09 SaturdayThis morning I slept in when I heard the rain. I then got up and ate some ceral and a pancake. Buffalo, Root Beer Float,and Icerus started out this morning but me and No$ waited to leave. I washed my clothing and dryed my stuff out . I started hiking around 3:00. Coming over a 4,000 foot Moutian, it started to snow. At the Shelter tonight it is cold, Cold, COLD, C-O-L-D. I expect my water to be frozen tomorrow. started Romans in my Bible. 28 degress right now.10/18/09 SundayThis morning it was freezing cold. My milk that I brought with me was icy and my water was almost frozen. It was about 23 degrees and if that was not bad enough the wind blew right into the Shelter. I took extra time to read a bunch in my Bible then ate. I didn't leave the Shelter till 12:00. there was snow an the ground till 2:00. I called my brother and ask him to send my rain coat and gloves. I was wereing a beany that I found at the Hostel and wore my socks over my hands to keep them from falling off. The warmest part of the day was 38 degrees. I biulded a fire at the Mountaineer Shelter a Shelter biuld in 2006. I just seen a mouse run across the floor. Man that mouse must have balls to be out here, my hands are almost froze. I listen to the radio and there calling for colder weather. The first I heard it, it was a front coming in and going out. Well fronts normally don't last for five days straight. Weathere mans calling for low 28 deggrees tomorrow night thats when I am planning to be at 4,682 feet. 3.5 degree drop for every 1,000 feet up, so do the math, looks like we'll be roasting frozen fingers over the compfire tomorrow night. Unless I freeze trying to get the fire started. I am in Romans 12 in my Bible reading and I'm not planning to play my fiddle so ti doesn't burst into a million pieces.10/19/09 MondayToday was Awesome. This morning I got started around 9:00. Seen Mountner Waterfall and Jones Fall. Went by a cemetary. at Apple House Shelter I met a guy who was working at Rusty, back when I stopped there in Verginia. Going over Hump Mountain was Amazing, Not a Cloud in the Sky. I could See for miles, I played my fiddle an Hump Moutian. The Sun felt so warm today. I am staying at a Barn, Overmountain Shelter. It is the same Barn thats on my thru-hikers Book. At the Shelter I met Justin and Brittany, they invited me to stay at there appartment near Erwin. I also met some day Hikers who fed me some burger. Larry and his friend who I met at KinCora came to the Shelter. We talked around a compfire for a little and watch for shooting stars. It's not as cols as it was yesterday.10/20/09 TuesdayI watched a beautiful Sunrise this morning, right from my bed. I started out around 9:00. Jane Bald and Round Bald were fabulous. No clouds to be seen. I talked to a lot of day Hikers on my way down to Carvers Gap. They all showed interest. In Carvers Gap I found a trail regester that belonged at one of the Shelters So I carried it up Roan Mtn. to Roan Mtn. Shelter were I found one already there. I ate my lunch there and contuened to Clyde Smith Shelter wich also had a trail regester. I watched a few deer there. I am at Cherry Gap Shelter by myself. The mice attivity is crazy. You can hear about everythin since the crikets and cacatadids stop chirping of the year. I had my algen water bottle setting out and I could not figure out why the mice were so persisten in trying to climb up it. Well it didn't take long to figure out why. Once a mouse got on top of my algen bottle, it climed right up a strap right into my Pack. I zipped the pack shut and trapped it. Now I got you! You Buzzard. I Tried catching it but I couldn't kill it. Tonight is at a normal tempearature for once, hence the mice. I hope I can sleep since there's no snorring to drown the mice out. I never thought I would appreciate hearing someone snoose.