Date: 2014-05-18
From: Spring Mountain Shelter

To: Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: clear sky

Today started out to be short being on the heels of two long days. Still babying the aggravating foot. Wanting to push but but too much. I was considering stopping at about 6 miles into the day at a trailside hostel secluded in the wilderness. If not for the day, for a snack. On the way down the mountain to Allen Gap there was a sign posted along the trail. "Mom's Hikers Welcome". Illegal sign if on Forest Service property but I took note nevertheless. Well once on TN 70 I could see a sign for Mom's about 100 yards away. If open a cold drink and snack would be good on this Sunday morning. And would negate the need to stop at the hostel. And thereby also the temptation for a day under 10 miles.Mom's was an ancient looking place. And in need of much more than a coat if paint. Smoke was billowing from a wood burning stove, no lights were on nor any signs of life around. There was an "Open" sign on the door. I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. To my surprise and pleasure I was warmly greeted by a man and woman. This started about 45 minutes of interesting conversation as I snacked on cold drink and snacks. Turns out the Cutstalls trying to revive the family grocery store where once it thrived in this area on service to hikers. They open the store from March to November. The market is primarily hikers. It sounds like this may be their only source of income. I was sure glad they were there, as were Yogi, Birdie and Poppy other hikers I knew who had signed their register. Real nice people. I wish them well.After refreshments I was ready to go. Soon ran into Pop C a guy I had met in Hot Springs. We both use the same model of Spot Messenger and saw them on each others packs. He is retired as a Forest Service Ranger/Fire Fighter from Arizona. He had used Spot for years on his job. Anyway this day he was stopped along the trail eating. Pop C had picked up a mail drop at the hostel I skipped due to Mom's and was partaking of some of it's ingredients. We hopscotched and or hiked together until he stopped at a spring to refill and I took a side trail to check out a campsite noted in the guide. At that point I had gone just about 10 miles and with rough terrain ahead it might be tough to reach the next shelter or find a suitable tent site. My investigation turned up not much but one mile ahead was another opportunity. Pop C and I hiked on. He was not interested in the other site so we parted ways. The other site was a lookout point with road access. Back to the woods with only about 3 good hours of daylight. And up ahead was Big Firescald Knob a section a SOBO who shared our shelter area last night said took him over an hour to negotiate. With daylight burning down and tent sites nil thank goodness my legs still felt good. Actually tbe best since starting the AT. My hike today started at 7:30 am and here it was almost 5:00 pm and not done yet.Lo and behold right on the Firescald Knob eating again and completely blocking the trail with steep drop offs on both sides was Pop C! At that point we decided to stick together until we found a camp location. It took some hiking but finally about 7 we found a site. None too soon as we were voth ready to set up and sleep.Thus ended my longest day on the trail so far in both miles and hours.Note: Firescald Knob had some of the best views to date on the whole AT. Too bad I had to hurry through. Someday it would be nice to get back there via the road where I did not camp and spend more time viewing the mountains from there.Blessings,