Date: 2013-05-04
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm
Miles today: 10.7

Out on the trail at 8:30 am as it is cold and the only way to get warm is to move fast. The first couple miles were up hill then all down to Davenport gap.On the way I met my first National Park Ranger, Nick Yarnell. Nick was very pleasant and asked us for our Smoky National Park thru hikers permit. He informed me the new fees of 20 dollars goes towards his salary, cleaning privies,hauling trash out of shelters, and maintaining bear bag cables at the shelters. It was nice to know where the money was going. He informed me that several days prior a hiker had left food in a pack where a bear could get to it at Mount Collins Shelter. This bear had been a "nuisance bear" at this shelter before and had been tagged and relocated to Georgia. He came back to the same shelter several days ago and got into the food ( which was most likely improperly stored) and had to be tranqualized and carried out on a litter by 8 people to be relocated yet again. This bear was 285 pounds, and has two strikes. If he comes back and is a "nuisance" again he will be euthanized (strike three your out).Nick informed me there are 1700 bears in the Smoky National Park and unfortunately hikers "habituate" the bears by improper storing of food and garbage. Once a bear gets a taste and associates a shelter with food he will keep coming back. We are all responsible for the euthanization of the bears in my opinion. So I did my best Yogi imitation, "Thank you Mister Ranger!" Nick told me his son watches Yogi bear cartoons like frequently. Nick said to me, " You look like your having fun out here." Indeed I am, every day out here is fun, especially compared to cubicle dwelling. I do enjoy the journey but the people who touch me with their stories really make the journey.I was almost out of the park when I ran into Bert who had his son on his shoulders walking up the trail towards me. Bert had come to meet thru hikers and offer whatever services he could to hikers, food, water, a ride to reprovision. He had read a few books on the AT and was "hooked". Bert and I talked about the trail and what its like for awhile. I had to go to Standing Bear as I had sent my self a package from Fontana to there. I took some chocolate from Bert. I told him that encounters with people like him "energize" me and make my day. He had served and Iraq for a year away from his family and felt he couldn't go on a thru hike just yet but he knows he will some day. I thanked him for his service to our country and I headed to Standing Bear Farm.Standing Bear Farm is a "throw back" to the 60's, kinda like Max Yeagers farm where the famous Woodstock Concert happened. For 15 bucks you can get a bunk, use the kitchen, shower and reprovision. I was shown where my package was and I caught up with FS and gave him some of my extra food. Since the forecast was for heavy rains for the next few days I decided to hitch to Hartford TN and then to Newport TN to chill while the 2-4 inches of rain forecasted would fall. One day one Eric of the Hiker Hostel told me if you don't have to walk in rain don't.I got a ride down the mountain with some locals who work the River Rafting industry, there are 12 White Water Expedition companies on the Pidgeon river. I got to ride with a goat, yup he was just a kid and cute as could be. My brother Frank has a goat, mmm I hear goat stew is... ummm how could anyone eat a goat so cute.I got a ride to Newport with Oscar who hiked the AT in 1980, he is a white water rafter. He says hes gonna go west to the Tetons and lead white water rafting on the Snake River, My mom did the Snake River 3 years ago at age 85. Woot.Any way safe, dry and sleeping in Newport TN, Not sure when the rains will let up, there heavy floodin'. As they say in Tennesee, " Sure looks like its a fixin' to be a toad choker" In Oklahoma they say "toad strangler". Aint good no matter where it happens but I'm still smilin' as I am off the trail.