Date: 2008-01-09
From: Bly Gap, NC

To: North of Coleman Gap, NC
Miles today: 14.1

I was tenting in a great spot last night...until the wind changed direction. It rained lightly off and on all night and into the morning...and the fog rolled in sometime overnight.I woke up this morning about 7am and when I rolled over towards the door of the tent, I could see it dripping inside the tent.The fog was blowing right through the screen and getting it soaked and it was dripping on everything I had on that side of the tent. Luckily there wasn't anything that it would hurt to get wet there...just my Exped airmat pump, my gaiters and my water bottles.I looked at my sleeping bag and could see some water beaded up on it. Had that been my other Western Mountaineering bag with the light weight shell, it would have been soaked through.I love my new Western Mountaineering bag and its Gore DryLoft® shell. It sheds water and the down stays dry!I got my coffee brewing while I checked all my other stuff to see if anything got wet.I had eight mini donuts and my Starbucks. Umm, ummm! :-)I decided to take my time because I was only planning on walking 12 miles today.I have been reading a book in my spare time, so I pulled that out and read a few chapters before I decided to go ahead and pack up.The name of the book is "Mistress of Justice". I found it in a shelter and am enjoying it.I was packed and walking by 10am. It was still really foggy out. I took a picture of the gnarly oak as I walked by.North Carolina greets all nobo hikers with a couple steep climbs as soon as you get into that state.I made those climbs this morning. I just walked slowly and I had them done before long.While I was making those climbs, I was enjoying the changing morning. I walked out of the fog as I gained elevation and the sun popped out.It was the exact opposite from last night when the tops of the mountains were socked in the clouds...this morning all the clouds were lower and the tops of the mountains were getting sun.I saw that my ol' buddy Chief made some disparaging remarks about me in my guestbook. I know Chief pretty well and I realized that he's proud of me doing these shorter days. Thanks Chief! :-)I got to Muskrat Creek Shelter and stopped for lunch.I partially dried out my tent while I was eating.I signed the register and looked through it for a while, then packed up and walked on.I had some Vienna sausages for lunch. They make great Trail food because you eat them for lunch, and then taste them the rest of the afternoon. ;-)I walked by Whiteoak Stamp, and then got to Chunky Gal Trail. That Trail reminds me of some friends each time I walk by. I like its name. :-)Today turned into an absolutely gorgeous day after all that wet and foggy stuff that rolled through last night.The sun was out all day and the humidity seemed lower than yesterday.I could see the vapor trails the jets were leaving in the blue sky.I climbed Yellow Mtn and when I came around a bend in the trail, I could see Standing Indian Mtn...my last climb for the day.About 2 miles of the Trail on Yellow Mt was quite rocky and choppy walking. I had to keep my eyes on foot placements most of the time...which reminds me, I made it through the whole state of GA without a fall! :-)I got down to Deep Gap and saw garbage cans! I LOVE garbage cans! :-)I don't know why Georgia took theirs out, but it sure is nice of North Carolina to provide them at some trailheads.I got my garbage out of my pack and when I opened the lid of the garbage can, a mouse hopped out and ran off.When I started climbing Standing Indian Mtn, there was a sign on a board that said there has been a bear stealing backpacks and shows no fear of humans. I really wish they wouldn't post that stuff! ;-)I climbed to Standing Indian Shelter and decided to eat an early dinner.I spread my tent out again to finish drying it while I ate. I stayed there almost an hour enjoying the quiet and making sure the tent was dry.I was completely out of water and when I left the shelter, I could have got water at a small stream. I looked up the mountain and it looked like the Trail crossed the stream farther up, so I walked on.It was almost 4 miles before I found the next water.I climbed to the top of Standing Indian Mtn at about 5,500 feet high, and then headed down towards Beech Gap.I found a small spring about a mile before Beech Gap. I filled up both 1 liter water bottles just so I knew I would be drinking Starbucks in the morning. :-) It took almost 5 minutes to fill the bottles because the spring was running slow.Climbing Standing Indian and coming down off it was very easy walking because the Trail is so well graded.I got to Beech Gap where I had planned to spend the night. It was low and damp, so I kept walking.In 2 more miles, I got to Coleman Gap and it was even damper, so I kept walking.There were plenty of flat places to set up my tent at either spot, but I the looks of them.I did find a dryer spot about half a mile later. There were several flat spots. I kept looking for the best one. It was harder to find because it was dark already.I saw two signs while I was looking that said "Carolina Bear Sanctuary".That can't be good! :-)Well, I'm set up in my tent and all snuggled into my sleeping bag for the night.I didn¢t see another person all day. I do like to socialize, but I also enjoy the solitude out here this time of year.It was another great day on the Appalachian Trail! :-)