Date: 2004-04-24
From: Standing Bear Shelter

To: Brown Gap
Miles today: 10.1

Big Party in the Woods10.1 miles in 6 hours Raven and I left the hostel late, feeling lazy and wanting to do some chores. We didn't plan to go far today, but then we learned of a major barbecue a trail association was throwing for hikers just a little farther on at Brown Gap.The climb out was endless, hot and humid,putting a heavy demand on our water supply. We passed a fellow hiker who seemed overcome by the heat. We tried to help, along with her hiking companion. We suspect she was dehydrated from all the beer she and her friends had put down the night before. Hiking and booze don't mix well.The first peak we topped, Snowbird Mountain, was a real, true bald. Over 50 acres of bare grassy expanse, with the trail marked by posts. A big round white FAA navigational signal station sat off to one side giving off a deep hum, making the scene a bit eerie. Where were the aliens? Then to a shelter to replenish our water. Nobody home, but then it was still early. Down we went into more woods, then up another long hill, Harmon Den Mountain, meeting and remeeting hikers from the night before.We descended into Brown Gap just as we heard a few rumbles behind us. Sure enough, there was a barbecue operation under two tents, going full blast. The crew looked like a bunch of bikers, with black skull-tee shirts, plenty of tattoos, and beards. They were an informal family group which does this once a month up and down this section of trail.Trailside barbecue thrown by biker gang, Brown GapHikers were sitting around catching up, chowing down, and gulping beer and sodas. We saw people we thought we'd never see again, reappearing after time off the trail, or a change of pace. There were over two dozen hikers there, some who had stayed around a day or more to hobnob.One of the crew passed a mason jar of clear fluid around. Moonshine! It was pure and sweet. The provider said it was the best ever, passed thru the still several times. The trail has its beauty, and the stops their social outlets. Each complements the other. A lively thunderstorm hit just minutes after arrival complete with pea-sized hail. We huddled under the snack tent so were in no distress.It cleared off, with a bright sunset. Now it's dark, and I'm in a quiet, private tarp just off the trail for the first time in way over a week.Tenting along AT at Brown GapTrail Physiology 101: Hiker Aroma. After several days of heavy exertion on the trail under pack, the hiker acquires a pungent scent. Mostly sweat, but probably other subtle essences that helped our species and ones before us indentify each other or send little messages. To quote Napoleon: "Don't wash, Josephine,I'm coming home!"Some hikers reek worse than others. We've avoided hiking too close behind one such individual.We never pass up a chance for a shower, and I do my best with baby-wipes each evening on the trail, and at least rinsing out socks, bandanas and underwear nightly.Most synthetic-material hiker clothing never quite sheds the smell even after several washings. It doesn't bother us much, but it can alarm ordinary folk. We try to shower and change into our clean "town clothes" before going to restaurants and grocery stores.More physiology later. How nasty do you want it to get?We're trying for 20 miles tomorrow so I better pull the plug and turn in. G'nite! Now-or-Never