Date: 2010-04-27
From: Dennis Cove, USFS Road 50 - Kincora

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 24.6
Weather: light rain

What a zoo. With the shelter full of slackers, at 7:00 still no movement. I was OK with a portion of the floor. With all the hacking throughout the night, glad to be leaving. Grabbed my pack and pad, went downstairs, two people in the kitchen, Atlas sleeping on the couch. As much as I try not to disturb people, when they are in a common area, all bets are off. Made the pocket in my pack for my gear, went upstairs, packed my bag, grabbed everything else and back downstairs. Laid everything out and started the packing process. I knew I only had a few minutes before more people would be out so I had to keep the process moving forward. With a cold/wet day ahead, I had to make extra care in keeping my pack clothes dry.With everything in place, I took off, around 8:00 I think. Before I left, the group was taking another zero day. This really sucks and is unfair because all the bunks are already full and no new hikers even came in yet. Many of the people there are sick for one reason or another, skipped a section of the trail to get there, and now staying a third or even fourth night because of the weather. No worries. They have not realized it yet but they are done. The AT, in its own way, is weeding the hiker wannabe out.On the road walk to the trail, one hiker is already headed in. As it turned out, he left the hostel earlier but realized he forgot his hiking poles. Bummer.Hit Laurel Falls. Nice. Pics and kept moving. Lost my timing and had to take care of business in the woods. 415 miles and my first poop in the woods. Nice to know.The walk through the Laurel Fork Gorge was beautiful. Steam below with steep and high rock walls on both sides. Very cool. Crossed Laurel Fork two more times on these massive bridges made of huge trees as a base support and nice tread. It is amazing how these massive projects are completed in remote areas like this. Bob Peoples, the owner of Kincora, has been a big part to the trail maintenance of this area.Well, unlike my last hike, I did not make any wrong turns, or should I say that this hike I actually made the turns that I missed in 2006.Up and over Pond Flats, the first of two climbs in my planned day. By the time I crossed US 321, the rain began. I was ready for it. The first nine miles had no rain at all, only cloudy and cooler. Stopped at the Watauga Lake Shelter to get water and treat it out of the rain. The fountain at the Shook Branch picnic area at US 321 was being flushed due to a leak. Bummer. At the shelter was Leaf and another older hiker.With my water treated, started to the dam and began my second climb for the day. By now, the rain was falling. Not a big storm, just a cold and steady rain. At the top of the ridge, I will hit my end spot.Of course when I got there, the slack rats were already there. There was one spot left but God forbid if the slack rats had to move over. I asked where they came in from and they said the last shelter. I responded, "You mean the one right down the hill?" Of course the slack rat got all defensive and said he didn't like walking in cold rain. Boo-hoo. It didn't start raining until around noon, they are on a ridge like where the next shelter is a glide hike of less than 7 miles. What losers. The AT is just playing with these hiker wannabe's. They are done and they don't even know it. Rain, are you kidding? This is not rain yet.I grabbed my pack, shook my head at them and said, no thanks, I'll be moving on. I'm going to go to the next section because I am a hiker, and hiking is what I do. I simply did not want to stay there and listen to them all go on justifying to each other why they are hiding in a shelter.At first the rain had stopped but I could see there was more on the way. The rain did begin again, and the temps were dropping. About 3 miles into my section, I saw a gray silhouette coming through the fog. When we crossed paths, we exchanged similar information where the shelters we just left were packed. Oh well. And full it was.When I got there it was packed. Of course I threw it out there and asked if there was room for one more, knowing what the answer would be. After I got it, I made the reply that the response was not thru-hiker friendly. After a few rumbles they did indicate that they would be willing to squeeze in one more. That was the proper response. Satisfied, I said, no thanks, I'm going to tent. And tent I did. Many of them only came the east 6+ miles of ridge. Greyhound was right. I am still in the large slow moving group. I feel good of my 24.6 mile day. Tenting at the end of it is the icing on the cake and feels good.Chief made a nice fire. I dried my rain jacket and warmed up. The fire was a perfect way to end my day. At 8:00 I climbed into my tarp, got things set up and organized and went to bed.A good hiking day by a hiker. It is a good feeling. I paid my dues today. Again, it feels good.