Date: 2008-02-09
From: Erwin, TN

To: Beauty Spot, TN
Miles today: 10.6

I got up early and answered some emails, then went down to the lobby for coffee and breakfast at 7am.I got a tray and took a couple biscuits with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, two hot cinnamon rolls, a little milk and two cups of coffee back to my room.When I got done eating, I took a shower, and then packed all my stuff.Miss Janet picked me up at 9:30am and took me to the Trailhead at the Nolichucky River.We sat there talking for about 30 minutes or more before I gave her a hug, thanked her for all her help and started walking north on the Trail at 10:20am.I only walked a few minutes when I got to a railroad crossing. I heard a train coming, so I stood there for several minutes while it passed by.I always love getting to a town, but boy, I really love getting back into the woods and leaving town too. :-)It was a nice day for a walk! I climbed a little and could look down at the old AT road walk along the Nolichucky River.I passed by a rafting place, and then walked for a mile or two along a nice little stream.There was quite a bit of recent Trail work down in the first 4 miles or so.....very nice job....Thank you maintainers! :-)I acquired a picture of Mango and Mrs Mango and it¢s posted on yesterday's journal. Thanks again to both of you for such a great time last night! :-)It started out fairly warm today, but it's cooling down as the day goes on. The higher I get, the more the wind picked up.I stopped at Curley Maple Gap Shelter and signed the register.I walked on and found a nice little stream, so I filled my water bottles for tonight and tomorrow morning. I'm glad I did because I didn't come across anymore water for the rest of the way up to Beauty Spot.I kept walking and whenever I found some soft dirt, I drew a smiley face in it for Marta and her husband, who are supposed to be spending the night on Beauty Spot tonight. :-)I got to Indian Grave Gap and started climbing. It was very windy with strong gusts....I was afraid one of the dead pine trees that the pine beetles got to would fall.I got away from most of that within a half mile.I finished the last two mile climb to the top of Beauty Spot.No one was there yet, so I walked on a 1/4 mile to some trees and got out of most of the wind.I started climbing this morning at 1,700 ft elevation and am over 4,400 ft high up here....and the temperature is dropping.I went ahead and wrote my journal for today up to this point and just sat against a rock waiting on Marta and David.I had been sitting by the rock out of the wind since 3:30pm. I heard Marta's voice on Beauty Spot at 5pm.Her and Ronda kept walking because of the wind and walked right to where I was sitting.She introduced me to Ronda and said David was coming up shortly with another friend by the name of Becki.They showed up in a while and we all went looking for enough flat spots for 4 tents.We found a spot and got set up just in time to walk back up to Beauty Spot for sunset.What an awesome place....and time of day to be here.I took quite a few pictures while I was up there.The wind was whipping through there and I found out from Ronda later that it was 26 degrees....so it felt a little chilly on my hands.Everyone else went back to the tenting area, but I stayed up for a while longer enjoying the last bit of light.I had forgotten to take my headlamp with me, so I had to walk cautiously coming back the .2 miles to the tents.We all sat out for a while talking....and I started yawning, so I headed for my tent at the late, late hour of 7:30pm. :-)We have a large dog here tonight too. Becki brought a beautiful dog by the name of Justice with here.Another great day on the Appalachian Trail! :-)