Date: 2007-05-09
From: Dutch Haus, Montebello, VA

To: Maupin Field Shelter, VA
Miles today: 19.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Slept about 4 hours. I drank about 5 cups of coffee to get going and updated my journal until around noon when I ate that "free lunch". I ate with a NOBO named "Spike". We talked about walking all the way to Waynesboro this day. We both got really fired up and Lois dropped us off about 1.5 miles to go up The Fish Hatchery Road. It was a hot, muggy, & steep climb. We did do the whole thing to the trail. I did ask him for a break here. I was pouring sweat. I drank a liter of water and we were on our way. We then climbed up and over Spy Rock and then down and up to the Priest Shelter. We talked awhile with "Bunny & Holger." We looked at the climb up over the 3 ridges of the blue ridge and went, "whew". Holger(section hiker) said that the contour of the trail was probably not that bad. I thought you poor section hiker; it is going to be pure hell! Spike and I walked the 4 miles down and I mean down to the Tye river. I liked hiking with Spike. He hiked different than I had seen a young man hike. He never changed his gait; always the same up hills and down. Now I always try to go alittle faster on level ground or downhill. He also takes alot of breaks and eats something everytime he stops. He was concerned about losing too much weight. His girlfriend: Cleo said that he looked very thin. His real name is Jethro; but, he is from Martha's Vineyard. After cooling his feet in the river; we made the climb to the Harper Creek Shelter. It was a tough 2.5 mile climb. We did not even think about the blue blaze called the MauHar trail that cuts off about 3 miles of the trail here. I did it last year and it is very very rocky and steep down and up. And the waterfall is not "all that". When we got to the shelter. There was a section hiker and his young adult son; two secton hikers named Ed and "where is she"(they hiked SOBO from Hanover); there also was "Wingheart" and another thru hiker whose name I missed. Spike and I sat down about an hour before dusk and mentioned that we were going to the next shelter. They group gathered said that we were crazy. They said that is a 3,000 foot climb over 4 1/2 miles. I said someone has to do it. As we prepared our meal; we all thru rocks at this water bottle suspended in a tree by a stream. In the register; everyone had tried to hit it. I think the record was 18 times to hit it. Spike and I never hit it. "WHere is she" asked whatever happened to "Mr Happy". She had been following my journal. As I thought of "Mr Happy"; I had to smile as I told the story. He went home on Feb 9th, right before the temp dropped to Zero degrees in the lowlands at mid day. He was at Fontana, NC. He admitted that he did not think that the south would get much below 20 degrees. He also had a girlfriend that wanted him with her and was dealing with all of those emotions. He then came back around March 5th with his dad and hiked to Gatlinburg. In the process, he ripped a calous off of his left heel that made him favor his right leg. He then ripped his right groin muscle on the Clingman's Dome icefield. He tried to get back on about two weeks later; but, just could not do it. He then yellow blazed to Standing Bear Hostel; Elmer's(SunnyBank INN); and Miss Janet's Hostel. He then took a bus home. Once I talk with him; I will do a AT NOBO case study of him and his trip. Alright, back to Spike and I. As we were getting ready to go; I went to get some water and slid on a rock into the creek about mid shin deep. When I fell; my Jet Boil, water bottle, and spork went flying. I gave out a yell. Spike said he heard it; but, said that I made a noise when I got water at The Priest Shelter and thought that is what I did. I never found my spork and my montrail boots are so waterproof; my feet did not even get wet. My gaiters kept the water out above that. We got going with the naysayers saying be carefull. It was one of the hardest climbs that I have done on the AT. We only stopped to get water here and there amidst the clouds. It was dark and the lights in the valley were gorgeous. There were 3 distinct peaks that were each challenging. We both fell a couple of times. We finally got to the MAUPIN fIELD Shelter around 11pm and I was fast asleep.