Date: 2005-04-08
From: Carter Gap Third World Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin, NC)
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: light rain

I spent most of the day hiking with Mateo and Tom. They keep a fast pace and are determined hikers. They're pretty good guys and have been friends since they were kids. Tom just got out of the Marine Corps and he has a hates the military with a vengeance. His favorite word is the F-word, it comes out of his mouth in some variation every fourth word. He was trying to reason how an AT guide author who will go unnamed calls giving food away on the trail without thinking about it trail magic, has a major problem with people thinking about giving food away to hikers beforehand, and calls an unnamed store with high jacked up prices for ignorant hikers who pack too much weight near the beginning of the trail "friendly to hikers". I thought his comments really funny.When we got close to Albert Mountain, we saw a sign saying Trail Magic. It was some guys who'd been there for several weeks serving up food. Over 400 hikers had passed by. They had a lot of restaurants and businesses donate food and supplies. I ate three burritos with salsa and they were fantastic.The weather wasn't as bad as yesterday since the wind was down but it rained sporadically. I wasn't drinking enough water most of the hike and my muscles started to ache. Albert Mountain is a high, steep peak. It was the first hand over foot so far. The fog covered the view.These section hiker women with their dog were saying last night that if we got to the Smokies and the weather was bad, we should wait until it clears up to see the views. Ha! The thought of that seems amusing, holing up in a hotel for 4 days to see the views. I love the beauty of the woods and being out there but this situation outlined the difference between a short-distance hiker's philosophy and mine. My first priority is continuing the hike, living the adventure, and facing the challenge that goes along with it. The beauty of the woods and enjoyment of being out here is also important, but comes second. It would be a very different kind of hike for me if it were the other way around and I think then I would be the type of person who gets off at Neel's Gap. I definitely wouldn't make it to Maine or have been able to hike the entire FT. I think many short-distance hikers, and some long-distance hikers, have a difficult time understanding this and not judging it as "the wrong reason to be on the trail," like that guy I met at the FTA conference. But screw 'em, I'm loving my hike and the wonder of it, and I'll be continuing to hike my own hike, thanks a lot.I'm glad to spend a night in town and especially at what I'm paying. Mateo and Tom got a hotel room and I'm paying them $9 to get in on it. Originally, I was planning on sleeping on the floor but they offered me one of the beds and they're sharing the bigger one. That $5 Trail Fest thing ended up being a waste in my opinion, although Tom and Mateo paid. Apparently, as the guys at the trail magic outpost told me, the owner of the event was quoted as saying, "There's gold in them there mountains, and it's wearing a backpack." That makes me mad, I don't want to be taken advantage of because I'm in a vulnerable position and a hiker. Besides, I'm a cheap bastard. The food was just hamburgers and hot dogs anyhow, and not enough to stuff myself with. So I went to the Sirloin Steakhouse, paid $7.50 with tip and tax for the buffet, and ate what must have been around 7000 calories of really good food. The waitresses were cute high school girls and really wanted to talk to me and learn about my trip. Fun.I can't believe how bad I smelled. Clean clothes and a shower, good stuff. My shoes are rapidly deteriorating, I called all over the country for like 2 hours to get a replacement of the same brand and size sent to me and no luck; it's last year's model, there's no this year's replacement model and so I don't know what I'm gonna do. REI is going to get in touch with Merrell directly and see if they can get me a pair, they're the Motivator model. The REI guy couldn't believe I've gotten almost 1500 miles on them, he was trying to explain in really technical terms how this was almost impossible and I should have a sore back from walking in them all the time. I just want a new pair of the same shoes. Merrell should sponsor me. Really. So should Salomon; everyone asks questions about my backpack. Well, it's a nice hotel tonight. More fun tomorrow.