Date: 2012-05-06
From: Log Cabin Road

To: Flint Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Breakfast with Lionel, ¢Bama,¢ and ¢Winkle¢ compliments of Hattie (yum), and then a ride to the Trailhead together with Fred. From there, the Trail was six miles straight up. At first I wasn't sure I was going to make it. After 100 yards, I was out of breath and feeling exhausted. So I stopped, loosened my chest strap, had a serious pep talk with myself and started off again more slowly and more methodically... One foot in front of the other. I soon came to realize that I had started out too fast. The reason I was going too fast was because I was intent on getting to the top of Camp Creek Bald before 12:00. I had seen at Allen Gap on Saturday, that the Greeneville, TN Hiking Club was providing serious ¢Trail Magic¢ from Friday evening until Sunday noon and, believe me, I didn't want to miss it! Once I settled into my stride I began to feel better and was soon motoring up the 2,200' climb to the top and to one of the best lunches I can remember having. When I arrived ten people from the Greeneville Hiking Club were there (all of whom were in their 60¢s) plus ¢Kleenex¢ (who told me that ¢Reaper¢ had left the Trail at Allen Gap because he wasn't feeling well and had been quite dizzy of late) and ¢Solex,¢ (who had passed me on the Trail making a beeline to the ¢Trail Magic,¢ too!). While I was scarfing down a huge burger cooked on a grill (plus a hot dog, a pound of pound cake and two caffeine free Diet Cokes) ¢Solex's¢ fianc©, Oden (who is hiking with her for a couple of weeks) and ¢Bama¢ arrived. ¢Winkle¢ was still en route and Lionel was working on finding his Trail Legs. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the thoughtfulness of our hosts - the food was delicious and the chance to participate in such an unselfish expression of generosity and support. Today I was able to participate in one of those experiences that make the Appalachian Trail experience what it is -- special!After lunch I headed toward my "planned" destination which was Jerry Cabin Shelter, feeling strong when I arrived. The sky had been grey with low clouds over the rocky ridge (the terrain was very reminiscent of Pennsylvania and parts of New Hampshire) but that helped keep the temperatures down. The sun broke through the clouds in full splendor as I arrived. When I realized that the next shelter, Flint Mountain Shelter, was only 5.9 miles away and it was only 3:30 in the afternoon, it occurred to me that I might want to abandon my "plan" and press on. So I checked my map to see what the terrain was like and talked about it with the two hikers already at the shelter, ¢Two Pair,¢ and ¢Mountain Surfer,¢ and, ultimately, decided to go for it.The hike involved a fairly gentle 1,000' climb over two miles of the five. ¢Knock on Wood¢ and ¢You Pack¢ (whom I believe are brother and sister.) Dillon (an ex-Army MP who is hiking this section of the Trail southbound and much of the time barefoot!) and a NOBO Thru Hiker name Kevin tented nearby. It was fun to be a "Gnat on the wall" for much of the conversation around the dinner table but to also be included as a fellow traveler as well. Yup, the Trail is special.Just before "lights out" (i.e. sunset)! ¢Ginger Snap¢ who also arrived, asked me, "So, Bumpo, when did you cross the 2,000 mile point?" Until that point it hadn't occurred to me that way back earlier in the day during my first mile of hiking when I was laboring so, I passed 2,000 miles of hiking the Appalachian Trail¢¦ Wow!