Date: 2007-05-17
From: Hiawasee Inn

To: Muskrat Creek Shelter
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: clear sky

Yesterday, Bruce and Jan, whom I met at Tray Mountain Shelter, showed up, in addition to a Floridian couple, and a gentleman with a dog (whom I didn't meet). The Floridians are opting for a zero-day, but Jan and Bruce and myself push out, ready for another adventure-filled day on the Appalachian Trail!The weather is cool, unusually so, I am told. If I were to get in a car, I could drive to my house in Augusta, GA in around 3 1/2 hours, if the traffic through Clayton and Athens is permittable. I've lived there for 25-years, and know that the weather for today is likely hot and muggy, with ungodly humidity, as is normal for this time of year. Yet, here the weather is cool, chilly, actually. This makes me want to push out all the sooner, to keep my body temperature up. I give Jan a hug and shake hands with Bruce, hoping I get to see them again, as I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with them!I'd been warned about the climb out of Bly Gap ever since Neels Gap, so I'm not sure how many miles I want to attempt. I figure if I at least hike to Muskrat Creek Shelter, then I'll be content, as I'm still in the early stages of my hike. Felicity told me, at Neels Gap, that hikers by this time are generally still averaging 8-12 miles a day.There aren't many views from the Trail today, although the forest is deliciuosly beautiful. It rained hard yesterday, so there's a sense of life, of vitality permeating everything from the smells, to the drip-drop of water from the leaves. Not more than 4-5 miles into my hike, I begin to regret not doing extra stretches yesterday, as my knee begins to stiffen up again. Between the 7 and 9 mile mark, each footstep becomes excrutiatingly painful. This knee of mine is not in the mood to carry me and my backpack over anymore miles, and it is pissed of at me for endeavoring to do so, and is definitely letting me know!But, what can I do? I can't stop in the middle of the Trail, I must push on. Even if I need to quit hiking because of this damn knee, I have to push on until the next sign of civilization (Winding Stair Gap, at highway 64 near Franklin, NC). This is something which I'm beginning to consider. I'm not a quitter for things like this, but if I need to stop due to a physical infirmity of sorts, then that is quite different than quitting!The pain exacerbates as the Trail becomes rocky and relatively steep, the pain reaching an almost unbearable point. I say under my breath, "Lord, please give me something to smile about!" I look up at that very moment, and see the North Carolina/Georgia border sign! What a joy to have crossed into a new state on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail! The only problem is that my leg still hurts like hell! Not even two-minutes later, up come two other hikers, maybe in their lower-30s. Apparently, one of them had knee surgery last year, and he shows me how to stretch my hamstrings (a novel thing for me!) and get the fluid out of the knee-cap area, which is what causes the stiffening.After resting for a short while, I press on, knowing that the shelter isn't more than 3-miles north of here. After ascending some log-steps, I see a tree that is right out of Tolkiens' masterpiece, "The Lord of the Rings". I have seen this tree in pictures numerous times over the years, and immediately recognize it. But, it is still awe-inspiring, as it is the only tree I have seen like it. I'm not a botanist by any sort, so I haven't a clue as to what species it is. I just know that it is beautiful, and somehow communicates to beauty of God.I know the dreaded climb out of Bly Gap is just past this tree, so I don't tarry, as I want to get this done, get to camp, and sleep, hoping the knee is in better shape tomorrow. As it turns out, the climb out of Bly Gap is definitely steep, but was "easy" compared to climbs such as Sassafrass and Justus Mountains and Kelly Knob in Georgia! Maybe my pain tolerance has reached an unhealthy high, where I didn't even notice the true severity of it...After crossing a creek, I find the shelter just to the right, barely off Trail. After I stop hiking, I realize how chilly it is! I am at 4,600' elevation, the highest on the Trail so far. The time is maybe 5pm, and I begin to worry about where the temperatures might dip overnight, with how cold it already is. I put on my thermal shirt and pants (under my shorts), and eventually add my fleece, unzipped. I wanted to sleep in the shelter so I wouldn't have to pitch my tent, but I figure it'll be warmer in the tent. As I begin searching for a level plot of ground, in truck Geo and Q, whom I'd met at Tray Mountain Shelter, completely stoned off their asses from eating hallucinogenic mushrooms. So much for being Mr. Devout Russian Orthodox Who's Considering To Be A Monk! Based on my experience of sleeping in the shelter with them on Tray Mountain, I'm glad that I have opted for the tent, due to the snoring and the music! I pitch my tent, and shortly thereafter climb in and sleep like a baby!