Date: 2007-03-31
From: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

To: Campsite 1 Mile Outside GSMNP
Miles today: 16.9

So yeah, I decided not to go to Standing Bear Farm to-day, but camp about a mile away from it near this brook. It's actually quite pleasant, though I'm the only one here. To-morrow I will wake somewhat early and saunter over to the hostel for my nero day - about 1 mile. It's NOT a zero day! Heh.Anyway, I am finally out of the Smokies, and boy did they let me know it. I awoke rather late (9:15), Shatter the ridgerunner was already gone, the Traildogs were eating breakfast and the day hikers were moving about as well. As I'm boiling water for my coffee, a bunch of guys around my age or older turn into camp. They give us free Snickers bars! Amazing! Wrapped in each Snickers bar is a green note. Here's how it starts:We are inspired by your adventurous spirit. We feel that it was God's will for us to come give you a Snickers on your journey. We hope you'll get a chance to look over the words below and let them feed you as well. God loves you are [sic] particularly fun piece of His handy work [sic]. Don't take our word for it, talk to him about it.Now, if you know me, I've never been much of a religious guy, but when they handed me 3 Snickers bars, I thought, "Thank God for Christians!" Turns out they were from a Youth Church Group in Kentucky and were out for a couple of days in the Smokies to do some backpacking.I finally broke camp around 9:45 and headed toward the Cosby Knob Shelter 7.6 miles away for lunch. I arrived there shortly before 12:30. I did 7.6 miles my first "official" day on the AT 20 days ago, from Springer to Hawk Mt. Shelter. That seemed so long ago now, when I was soft and an unhairy mess. Now as I write this, my body is significantly leaner, I probably have a "smell" and my beard - let's not go there. My shorts don't fit me anymore either, and they used to be just a smidgen snug. They fall past my butt. I need a bath.So yeah, I zoomed to the shelter, ate lunch with the Traildogs, and made idle chitchat. Before long, Calamity Jane, who I met yesterday, showed up, and good times were had by all.I think I started the AT at exactly the right time, and moved at exactly the right number of miles a day. Calamity told us how 30+ hikers slept at Pecks Corner that night, 5.2 miles before Tricorner, and that about 45 hikers were leaving Fontana for the Smokies today.I've barely seen anyone in the Smokies. I saw a bunch at Newfound Gap, but I guess I pushed on enough yesterday so that I avoided most of them. This is good. I've been meeting new hikers almost every day now, but just enough so that it doesn't feel crowded. Although my desire to take a nero at Standing Bear Farm threatens this, my feet need a break, or I could seriously injure myself.Anyway, the rest of the way out of the park was completely, and I mean COMPLETELY, downhill. Over 6 miles of continuous downhills.By the time I arrived at Davenport Gap a few hours later, my feet weren't talking to me. They're a step away from packing their bags and skipping town.So now I'm camped at this little spot amongst the poison ivy. I've eaten a typical lousy hiker meal, and I'm ready for bed. My dad and Matt Minkel are driving to Hot Springs to-morrow and hiking south until they find me, so I should see them in a few days time. All is good in Katter-Pilllar-land.It's also the first day since Hiawassee that I didn't hike with or at least talk to or even see Footpump. It feels rather odd not being able to joke around with him.