Date: 2014-07-03
From: Mountaineer Falls Shelter

To: Kincora Hostel
Miles today: 17.3
Weather: scattered clouds

Struck out very early today at 6:00 am in hopes of making the next shelter 10 miles away. At that stop I hoped to be there with enough time to have a long rest before heading down to the hostel 7 more miles away. I did make good time averaging just over 2 mph. The shelter was the worst I've seen on the AT! Very dirty and run down. Wouldn't have stayed there if I was dead tired. Actually I was feeling good. But the question was could I do another 7? Well after a one hour rest and lunch off I went. That was at 12:30. The trail was mostly level to downhill most of the way. I slowed mightily about two miles from the end. Even tripped and fell for the first time! Later discovered one of my sticks was slightly bent. Earlier, before I fell, a stick was put to good use stopping a fall. Had not fallen hardly at all since starting this journey back in April. And here today once and almost twice! Question is did I bend it on the fall or the almost fall. No matter bend was slight and still stick fully functional Was I ever glad to reach Dennis Cove Road. Kincora Hostel was . 3 miles away. Got there just before 4 and no one was home. The hostel was open and a sign said to go on in. I did and the place was ..well it's "rustic". I guess that's what one gets at a place that takes donations only and the suggested amount is 5 bucks. The owner, Bob Peoples who is a legend on the AT arrived about 5. We immediately had to go into town, Hampton, TN. because the grocery closes at 6. Picked up a frozen pizza, Gatorade, two soft drinks, and three bottles of water for the trail. One other hiker, a day hiker from St. Louis I think was staying there. Besides Bob a former thru-hiker , still using his trailname, Lumpy was there. He was Bob's help around the hostel and with trail maintenance. Get this he sleeps in the woodshed not the hostel! No kidding. Scott the day hiker was also a bit odd. When away hiking he likes to be uncomfortable. He thinks that's is the way it's supposed to be. To that end he doesn't shower, shave or sleep in a bed. Sleeping is done sitting and in dirty clothes. And apparently he doesn't eat much either. Odd and more Odd. Very interesting guy otherwise. Very knowledgeable of birds, plants, trees and the like.Bob seems to know the AT like none other. Is very active in trail education and the Appalachian Trail Conference. He is in charge, totally as a volunteer, of maintaining all the trail I've hiked since after Erwin! I told him of a tool I saw along a relocated section going up Roan Mountain...a solid steel pry bar for moving rocks. Probably weighs in at 50 to 70 lbs. And not the tool one would want to voluntarily carry to such a job site or use for that matter! Bob immediately told Lumpy to go fetch it the next morning. That's likely at least a 5 mile round trip. First it would be down from the parking area on the mountain top and then up with the tool. Glad I could be of help guys.I initially had thoughts of Zeroing or Neroing at Kincora, but for me this would not be a comfortable option. Just a wee bit too rustic and with no cell or WiFi service nothing at all to do. The only reason to stay would be if I just absolutely needed rest..like after my longest ever day on the AT! I decided it was time to test both me and my foot. So how about the second longest day since returning to the AT two weeks ago and followed by a 10 miler into Damascus. I had now made the decision to have Bob shuttle me around the over active bear section plus a few miles and just get me home and back to Cathy another two days plus or so sooner. Sure do miss my bride. I can make that section up in the future. Perhaps with Sheltowee Trace friends.Tomorrow's hike starts at TN 91 in a gap almost at the top of the mountain. The trail basically will skirt the ridgetop before heading down into Damascus. According to Bob, I should be able to make better time, approximately one half mile per hour, over the next two days.Now to bed Logman...."If you are lucky enough to be hiking in the woods, you are lucky enough" from the wall of an AT shelter.Blessings,