Date: 2018-03-11
From: Black Gap

To: Hawk Mountain Campsite
Miles today: 8.9
Weather: clear sky

It is exhausting to sleep in such close quarters in an open shelter trying not to disturb anyone. I generally flip around and toss and turn all night because my arm goes numb. I can¢t sleep on my back because I get arithmea and heart palpations. And most disconcerting, is my that my small half-century old bladder doesn¢t hold liquid like it used to, so I¢m usually up several times a night to pee.After what seemed like an eternity, before dawn I stumbled to the privy (a primitive outhouse) in near total darkness and in a cold light rain. I had the red light on my headlamp in accordance with trail etiquette as not to disturb the other campers. Number one and number two happened and that was the highlight of my day to come.I was the last of my shelter group to leave that morning as I fumbled with organizing my exploded pack. Experienced hikers pack their gear quickly. I¢m not there yet. After a mile-and-a-half hike on a wet muddy morning, I arrived alone at Springer Mountain where the Appalachian Trail officially begins. I had the place to myself, kissed the plaque and took some video even though the views were obscured by heavy mist and fog.  I was soon joined by an older gentleman from Massachusetts. He retired early to hike the Appalachian Trail. We took photos of one another next to the monument and signed the register. We hiked together for a spell and it became apparent I couldn¢t keep pace with the tall fellow so I told Daddy Longlegs (my private trail name for him) in his wide brimmed safari hat to go on ahead and we would meet up later at the campsite.  Despite the rain, the hike was very pretty and meandered through groves of rhododendron, through tunnels of green, and crossed many gurgling streams. Me an ¢Nawlins¢ (the guy from New Orleans) played leapfrog the better half of the day. He told me if I insisted on calling him ¢New Orleans¢ I¢d have to use the proper pronunciation ¢Nawlins.¢At Three Forks, I ran into a trail volunteer whom I¢d met the previous day on the approach trail. He told me not to skip an upcoming short side trail to Long Creek Falls as it would be worth my time.On the way, I discovered a lesser falls that I had thought was Long falls. It was so serene that I lingered for a snack break at the top of the falls about a foot away from where it crested. I then climbed down the rocks to its base and discovered Eden. The 20 foot falls plunged into a sparkling clear pool of shallow bathing water surrounded by sand that looked like spilled jewels, and a rhododendron canopy. Later I found the real Long Creek Falls which was even more spectacular.Late in the day in a steady rain, I pitched my tent at Hawk Mountain Campsite. Daddy Longlegs, Nawlins, Groot (from W.Va.), and Fusia were already at the campsite and set up. I got the last available tent spot which was right next to the bear box.The night was cold, wet, and extremely uncomfortable.  In fact, it was downright miserable and claustrophobic. Sometime during the night I heard heavy machine gun fire close by.  It went on for about fifteen or twenty minutes.  My first thoughts as I lay shivering were that somebody gunned down all the hikers in the main shelter and that we in the campsite were next.  Then I remembered Mr. Clean telling us that there was a military installation near Hawk Mountain.  Still, not a cool stunt to pull in the middle of the night near the Appalachian Trail. I had my first serious thoughts of quitting the trail that night on Hawk Mountain.