Date: 2004-05-05
From: Thomas Knob Shelter

To: Old Orchard Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Okay, I'm back. I'm feeling good. I'm ready to walk to Khatadin. The day started cold, overcast and windy. Two of our shelter buds jumped up and decided to go to the next shelter five miles down to fix breakfast. I have tried that and I find it hard to do, so coffee and hot cereal in the cold wind. I had already decided to only walk to Old Orchard so I got a slow start. Then I realized that I had left my gimme hat with Tigger at the shelter. I had already walked about a mile plus. I dropped my pack and ran back to the shelter. TreeFrog was still there and had just finished packing my cap into his bag. He had things returned by hikers behind, since he knew where I would be tonight, he thought he'd bring my cap along. What a nice man. I've had the pleasure of sheltering with TreeFrog several nights now. He's from Pasadena Texas. Homeboy. Retired and just chugging along. We sit and chit chat since he's nearly always last into the shelter. The walk today was mainly about getting off the Mt. Roger top. The farther down, the warmer. The warmer it got, the prettier the land once again. The wild ponies used to keep the balds bald, aren't as wild as the pictures. They come right up and want to see what you might have that they could eat. I gave a couple of them nose rubs and moved on.I got to the next shelter to find one of leapers still there, GrizzlyDave. He told me he thinks I have it right, eat first. While sitting there, BeatBox showed up. He's on his way to catch up with Krispy. He had gotten up at five a.m. and had already put in 16 or so miles. We figured out he would need to put that much in to catch up with Krispy and his gang. Crazy boy. Dave and I headed out for the next six miles. The sun came out. The wind became a breeze. Came over Stone Mountain as the wind started up again. Couple times, it knocked me side ways but it was a warm wind. Stone Mountain and the area around what they call The Scales are these scrubby little bushes that are greening up. I stopped to look and realized they are blueberry bushes. Too bad it's too early for blue berries. The information kiosk at The Scales tells visitors that these wild blueberries are really related to the huckleberry. Pretty interesting information at these little stands. I like stopping and reading them. Some have history tales; some are informative, about plants, about ponies, about trail. All of them warn about camping rules and regulations and all of them have a big sign that say "Pack it in, Pack it out" The Leave No Trace slogan. Sometimes I try to pick up trash along the trail. Sometimes I get into town with a pound of trash. It's sad to realize not everyone packs it out. Old Orchard looked crowded when I got here. Adam and Dave were sitting trying to figure out if they wanted to walk farther. It was three o'clock. There were several section hikers also. The shelter holds four. Dave and Adam decided to go another four miles. All but one section hiker decided to tent. This shelter actually has a really nice tenting area. TreeFrog showed up and he claimed the third space in the shelter. The section hikers pretty much stayed together. This is their last night out. They are from Michigan.   TreeFrog and I sat at the picnic table yakking and fixed supper. I had my pear crumble in the food bag. I fixed it after supper and TreeFrog pulled out some ginger snap cookies. He shared his experiences when he had to go to Japan for a job. We had a nice dinner together. The shelter faces north mostly, but the field in front slopes down and one can see the hills. The sun set beautifully and a full moon is gracing the field. The section hikers are asleep. TreeFrog is writing and I'm ready to turn off my light and go to sleep. It's good to be back. It was a good day to hike.Namaste'