Date: 2004-04-16
From: Vandeventer Shelter

To: Dennis Cove Road (Kincora Hostel)
Miles today: 17.5

Kincora12N, 4/17 - Moreland Gap ShelterToday's walk was the second longest of my hike, and fairly easy until almost the end. It began with a long ridge walk descent to Watauga Lake dam, one of the largest earthfill dams in the country. Then I walked around one end of the lake for a few miles. That was followed by a long gradual climb of nearly 2000' up Pond Mtn, and a shorter, steeper walk down. I guess the Pond Mtn caught me a bit unawares. Most of the elevations in the data book after the dam were around 2000', with just one entry at nearly 3800'. Somehow I missed that entry and was expecting an easy walk in to Kincora after the dam. The walk up the mountain wasn't bad, and I had plenty of energy all the way to the top (I also met about 10 hikers on my way up, and stopping to talk with them always gives me energy). But by the time I got to the bottom I was getting tired. I knew I had a 400' climb to the road, which is normally not a problem. But what a climb! First there was a boulder scramble right along the edge of fast-flowing Laurel Fork. I knew the passage was narrow since I had heard that a hiker fell in a few days ago. But it was narower than I expected and took more rock jumping than I had anticipated. Shortly thereafter I came to the impressive Laurel Falls, at which point the Trail took an abrupt upward turn. There were probably several hundred steps to get to the top of the slope, and not regular steps like in a staircase, but with a random variation in rise and run, so it was basically a rock hop for 400 vertical feet. Usually I enjoy those, but since I was already tired, I felt wiped out when I got to the top and was quite grateful that the Trail was essentially level the remaining mile to the hostel.Kincora is a hostel run by Bob and Pat Peoples where thru-hikers can stay for the princely sum of $4 per night (donation). Besides bunks, showers, laundromat they provide rides to town and to trailheads (for slack packing - see tomorrow). In addition they are very knowledgeable about the Trail, and genuinely care about the hikers' well-being. It is a real pleasure to be staying here.Hikers met on the Trail:Ashtray; Grey Fox; a couple who had thru-hiked in 89 with two kids, 3 or 4 and 5 or 6, hiking from here to Damascus 1 shelter at a time; Gumbi with dog Gumbo and Gear Guy, Wolf Cookie with husband, Dances with Wolf Cookie, Pill Pro; 5 people who have come together as a group since Springer - Burning Boots, Jay Bird, Squish and brother Green One and Rock Hound; Flora & Fuana; Semicolon; Wounded Knee; Rex; Ichabod; Burn.Hikers met in the hostel:Lone Wolf; Georgia; Castro; Wolf Wind.A couple of special hikers met at Kincora:Spoon - a southbound thru-hiker who started at Katahdin last August. He hiked until December and got off in Atkins. He left Atkins on Sunday and walked in here a couple of hours after I did.Flyin' Brian (and partner Silver Girl) - He did the Calendar Triple Crown in 01. That is he walked the entire lengths of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide Trails in the same calendar year. It was quite interesting talking with him to get his impression of the AT, and hear about the PCT (Which I may consider some day. I don't think the CDT is in my future.).See you on down the Trail