Date: 2014-05-14
From: US 19E

To: Walnut Mountain Road
Miles today: 10.9
Weather: overcast clouds

After a night of hobo camping by the highway in the rain, it was time to move on, a Trail Days was coming up and we needed to get as close as we could before taking a shuttle in. Guppy and Gamma Goat left early in the morning, we were hiking by Elk River today and hopes were high in catching more fish.   The hike today was a diverse one from going through open fields to hikes by waterfalls and rivers, it kept the day interesting. Tim and I separated from Grizzly and James early on, once we get going, we're locked in and fly down the trail.    We got down to Elk River which is a nice size and hike a bit until we see Guppy and Gamma Goat fishing in the water. Instantly, Tim gets his fishing gear and jumps into the river. I took out my tent fly and laid it on the the ground to dry and then did some much need river laundry. I use my clothing bag as my pillow and as of late my socks were preventing me from that, I also cleaned my shorts which were looking pretty dingy as well. Overall it was a sight to behold with me in the river in my underwear scrubbing socks and shorts, Tim down river in his underwear fishing and two guys fishing with a hand reel, we're keeping it classy out here. While scrubbing my third pair of socks, I hear Guppy screaming and he's battling something big and in the end he had an 18 inch rainbow trout,it's good hiking with avid fisherman. He cleaned it and poached it in a mountain house bag with some seasoning, Tim shared his tortillas and hot sauce so we had some fish tacos for lunch.   While we were eating, James mentioned he saw a first ranger who said a bad storm was coming through during the night and coincidentally we were near a hostel so we made the decision that if we got to the road and one of had service we would call for a shuttle. So we marched on and passed by Mountaineer Falls, a beautiful waterfall located right on the trail. It also has a flat spot on top where you can stand under and enjoy a waterfall shower or so I thought. I got up and looking at me you would've thought I was slipping on ice, the first fall I cut up my wrist and was lucky not to do anymore damage and after a few more slips I butt dragged over to the dry spot. I was waiting to hear Guppy's laugh from below but luckily they all missed it.   So we got to the road and has service so we got a shuttle to the Black Bear Hostel and was hoping to split a cabin but there was some biker reunion going on at the hostel and all they had were bunks. The bikers were Hells Angels riding Harley's but retirees riding big touring motorcycles, there was about 200 of them and really cool people. The hostel itself was real nice, it was like Standing Bear Farm just less sketchier with a better resupply. So we hung out there having some beers and watching movies, I forgot how funny Dumb & Dumber is.    So in the end we decided we would head into Trail Days a day early and hang out in Damascus. Gamma Goat is leaving the trail this weekend and has his car there so we can do whatever we needed to do. Grizzly and I are going to go back where we got picked up today after Trail Days and the rest are are going to leave from Damascus and hike out. The group is disbanding for a time but I have faith it won't last for long.