Date: 2016-08-28
From: Abingdon Gap Shelter

To: Double Springs Shelter
Miles today: 8.3
Weather: clear sky

I used to sleep really well on the trail. I had problems sleeping last night. The bugs were so loud I had a hard time getting to sleep. Knee pain woke me up off and on throughout the night. At 5:30 a.m. I was awake, and I realized there was absolutely no sound! No bugs buzzing! I rolled over and went back to sleep for another hour or two.When I did get up I realized I did not see a privy last night. I pulled out my AWOL guide. Nope, no privy listed. In fact, I saw no privy listed for any of the shelters in Tennessee. Now I understood why there was a spade shovel leaning in the corner of the shelter next to the broom.I was wrapping up putting my pack together when Bob got up. He set his stack of books on the picnic table - the 2 complete AWOL guides and a thick heavy paperback novel. Then he fired up his stove, right beside the books. He let the flame burn high, and the wind caught and pulled the flame towards the books. More than once I thought he was going to catch the stack of books and/or the picnic table on fire. He made noodles for breakfast and then tea. He was still complaining about going for water last night. I filtered the water from my bladders and had plenty left over, so I gave Bob the remaining unfiltered water, which he gladly accepted. Then I was off.I was hoping that, like Bob, I could make it to the second shelter. But that was not meant to be. I was very sore. My right knee was killing me, and the rest of my body ached from carrying a full pack for the first time in a while. I felt like a very old lady in my granny panties as I headed up the trail. Fortunately, like yesterday, after about 1-2 hours, the knee pain got much better and my gait was normal. With a few adjustments, even the pack eventually became more comfortable.The trail itself was easy, but the edges were extremely brushy. The vegetation seemed to have a lot of bugs and a lot of thorns. The thorny bushes and vines were at the right height to pull and scratch at my hands as I moved my hiking sticks.And of course there were the spiders. I frequently had to stop and wipe the webs (stuck in the sweat) from my face and neck with a bandana. I also had to brush the hitch hiking spiders off my hat and arms.I stopped briefly at the disused McQueens Knob shelter. It is a very small old shelter made of logs with a very low opening. I can understand why a newer shelter was built. What I did not understand was the pile of garbage in the fire ring.At the road crossing (US 421) at Low Gap I found a "trail angel" by the name of "Polar Bear." He was reclined in a lounge chair next to a cement picnic table near the piped spring. He was quick to show me his new polar bear tattoo, with the AT symbol. I took a break and chatted with him for a while. We talked about guns and about US 421, which is supposed to have more curves than the Dragon's Tail near Fontana Dam. (So Mary, stay off this road too!!) It was Sunday and there were a lot of very loud motorcycles and cars out enjoying the curves."Polar Bear" told me about mountain lions, huge timber rattle snakes, and very fat copperheads (bigger around than a lunch plate!) which were in the area. He also told me about the bear issues between Vandeventer Shelter and the Shook Branch Recreation Area - a 9.1 mile stretch in which I should not stop for any reason. He said the Watauga Lake Shelter was closed due to bear activity. Supposedly a sow with cubs had taken over the shelter and become a nuisance, which has been ongoing for more than 1 year. According to Polar Bear, whenever he goes into the woods he always takes his 9 mm and his Bowie knife strapped to his leg. (Hmmm, I do not recall those being on the 10 essentials list.) I told him I was packing a life guard whistle and an air horn.He also told me that I would be climbing the rest of the day and into the next. He was not kidding. The trail was easy, but it was all up hill. No wonder Bob did so well yesterday, he was going DOWN hill almost all the way. I would have been flying too!!I reached Double Springs Shelter and decided to call it a day. I was sore, hot, sweaty, tired, and hungry. The shelter was pretty trashed. There was trash in the fire pit and bits of trash all around the shelter. The shelter was also coated in graffiti, and there were lot of flies - either from the trash or unburied human waste. It is really a shame. Since I had the place to myself I again hung my tent from the rafters in the shelter. While I made dinner a chipmunk popped out to check me out and to see if there would be any food for him. Of course, I had no intention of feeding him, directly or indirectly with spilled food or trash, and perpetuating the problem.I hung my bear bags and used the shovel provided to dig my cat hole for the morning, then went to bed. Again, I had problems falling and staying asleep. I was tempted to use my ear plugs to keep from hearing the bugs buzzing.The AT is calling. I have my fingers crossed that my knee continues to only hurt for a few hours each morning. It is a small price to pay for such a great adventure.