Date: 2003-03-11
From: Franklin, NC

To: On the Trail!
Miles today: 0.0

Hi everyone! It's been longer than I expected, but here I am in North Carolina! I've been keeping a daily journal, but rather than just copy from it ("I really could use a Snickers. My feet hurt. Need food now...") I think I'll just be extemporaneous as I hit computers. Right now I am in the Franklin Library, having dropped off my bag at the Franklin Motel, where I may or may not stay tonight. I was planning on getting back on the trail later today, but there is a $2 2 hour line dancing class tomorrow morning that I may have to go to :). And I am pretty smelly after nine hiking days.The trail is wonderful. I have met some pretty cool people; most impressed my older folks like Mama Lipton and Flatlander (both turning 65) and Subman who are doing the trail. I hope I am still out here at that age! The weather has been unseasonably warm and mostly sunny. Beautiful stars atop Tray Mountain and last night at Standing Indian Mountain, and a breathtaking view from the firetower atop Mt. Albert yesterday. I was having so much fun hiking I pushed through to Franklin with barely enough food. I've also been hiking long days, one 18-miler and yesterday was a 20. I have to cut that out, it's just been so great to be out. Don't want to burn out, though, so I'll be keeping it to under 15 from now on. So far I've stayed at:March 3: Hawk Mt. ShelterMarch 4: Tarped on Big Cedar Mt. in a rainstorm. Decided a 5' by 8' tarp is not enough!March 5: Neel's Gap, hammocked outside in a thunderstorm. Free pizza! Almost drove to Gooch Gap for Krumbsnatcher's birthday, but missed my ride.March 6: Blue Mt. Shelter (long 18-miler with Alex and the Yellow Submarine)March 7: Tray Mt. Shelter (sunned on the Mt., beautiful)March 8: Plumorchard Shelter, kickass fire thanks to The Lumberjack.March 9: Standing Indian Shelter. Taught Mafia.March 10: Rock Gap Shelter. Exhausted, but psyched to be close to town.Gear update: looks like the rubber slip-on crampons won't be necessary, though I sent them ahead to Fontana Dam just in case. Will send home a whole layer after the Smokies. I bought a cheap alcohol stove that burns a little more efficiently than my Pepsi can one but also has this invaluable little metal cross that sits inside and acts as a pot support. It turns out that my cool converted heating duct actually cut out too much oxygen, so the Yellow Submarine (three guys sharing a yellow two-man tent) gave me a windscreen. Shoutout to Pathfinder, Lion Cub and Rider. Also, I bought a Hennesey Hammock Ultralight Asym: it will be great later on because it's bugproof, and right now with a sleeping pad in it it isn't too cold. Though I am sure I will want to stay in shelters in the Smokies, for warmth and due to bears. I did meet one guy carrying bear mace. I figure that if there's a hungry bear, he can find a better meal than me :) Mom, please don't worry.There are many more guys than women out here. I am really hoping to meet Braveheart, I am about half a day behind her but she does fly! I have acquired and lost many trailnames, including Watergirl (nice because my given name is Miriam, who led the people to water: however, I got it for pouring water onto a fire in a tired haze), Packmouse and Chatahoochie Mama. (The Chatahoochie wilderness extends thru Georgia). None so far has stuck, but we'll see.I seem to miss every trail angel on the trail! A trail angel is someone (usually a former thru-hiker) who shows up with food or other good things, so basically just food.If I hit a rough time when I am hiking, I think a lot about good friends and family and how supported I feel. It was so nice to have a send-off brunch with my parents, sister, aunt and uncle, and two good old friends. Cat and Skeist, you be careful with that password I gave you to post a photograph. If this journal suddenly becomes an arms-dealing sight, it wasn't me :)Today should be pretty chill: laundry and I may purchase a pair of leaopard-print slippers as campshoes (sent home my sneakers, too heavy). Also, I found that while Wingfoot's guide is heavier than the databook (and two years old) I like it so much better. Mac and cheese doesn't hold a candle to Easy Mac for prep time and fuel consumption. Tasty Bites are heavy but rock my world. Note to self: ration 2 snickers a day!Info for hikers: I just got a message that "Tellico Gap Hostel" was a guy taking advantage of his sister's property, and it no longer exists. Don't plan on staying there.My next maildrop after Nantahala will be the Nolichucky Hostel. More on maildrops to come!Signing off,Mimi, five pounds lighter but with all the dirt it probably evens out.