Date: 2007-03-28
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: clear sky

Albert Mountain MagicGot walking with osowito around 8:30 this morning and caught up to mala and tucker. We made it to betty creek gap and filled up our water bottles from the spring. I used my bandanna as a filter and the steripen to kill any nasties. The batteries on the steripen died today which was surprising since I've only been out 10 days. I replaced them with lithium batteries that will hopefully last longer.Shortly after we left the gap we ran into our first trail magic experience. Chris and Claire from Florida were set up at mooney gap. They had sodas and Gatorade, hot dogs with all the condiments, and various snacks. I ate 3 hot dogs and way too many snacks and hung out for a bit. While we were there a hound dog with a radio collar wandered up to us. He was a hunting dog that was out looking for bears. The owner showed up and picked him up and I talked with him for a bit about how the collar works. Basically it uses radio frequency that transmits a signal to the owners receiver. When the dog has a bear treed and is on his hind the legs, the collar sends out a signal that beeps twice as fast. The hunter then follows the signal and shoots the bear out of the tree. Doesn't seem very fair does it?After magic, we made the climb up Albert Mtn to the fire tower. There were 360 degree views from there, the best of the trip so far! I hung out on the fire tower for about 20 min looking toward the smokies and the mountains we will be walking over for the next few days. Truly awe inspiring!The trail after Albert was super easy, but my leg started acting up again and I basically limped the last few miles to Rock Gap Shelter. Once I stop walking the pain goes away so I'm not too worried.The same crew was at the shelter again, but mala and osowito went to town. 2 girls whose names I forget, eagle, matt, pete, and ninja also showed up. I was super glad to have my hammock because there were no tent spots and the shelter was full. Eagle was the biggest legend that I have met so far. He has already hiked from springer to katahdin and back again and now he is headin to katahdin again. He is calling it a yo-yo-ho and supposedly only two other people have done that. He also hiked the pct and cdt and is an retired marine wilderness survival instructor. Super cool dude and will talk your ear off!Today was an awesome day to say the least! First magic experience, best view, easy trail, officially my longest backpacking trip, crossed 100m today, and met more trail legends, you can't ask for much more. Tomorrow I am doing a nero into Franklin and will probably take TWO zeros for the hiker fool bash. Word is a bunch of the legends will be there. Baltimore jack, Lone wolf, ron haven, crutch, mala, fishin fred, the list goes on and on. This is what the trail is all about so I have no problem taking days off!As I'm typing this in my hammock a whole bunch of beetles are crawling around in the leaves under me. The forest is def starting to come alive for the spring.Today's StatsStarting Point:Carter Gap ShelterEnding Point:Rock Gap ShelterMileage:12.1Elevation Gain:2020ftElevation Loss:2700ftHiking Time:6:51Weather:70's and sunnyPain Factor:3