Date: 2006-03-19
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Siler Bald Shelter
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

Wow! What a day of trail angels and trail magic! Woke up at around 6:30 AM to Boy Scout base camp. Bit chilly again this morning, but thankfully no rain today, the forecast had been iffy in its prediction of today's weather. Granole and tea was the way I started off, and surprising enough, the little brats were out of there before we were. I blame it on the call of nature - can't help that at all.Within the first two miles we encountered the start of the trail magic of the day. And that's exactly what the sign said that we came upon, simply "TRAIL MAGIC"! A whole camp of people had driven up on a forest road to this spot right before the Albert Mountain climb to set up a base camp and cook-out for thru-hikers. They had enormous tents set up that they let thru-hikers stay in, a camper there, a fire going, and all sorts of food tables set up. I had just eaten but I managed to stuff down some coffee, fresh coffee cake from a Dutch oven they were using, and some delicious homemade brownies. The eggs were cooked on a giant saw blade that was hung from a tripod over the fire. This sawblade had come from a hiker's family farm in Maine, and he desharpened it and turned it into a grill. On of the coolest things I've ever seen. And out of all the people there, only a couple were actually thru-hikers. Everybody else was there just to support the hikers that year and enjoy themselves. Apparently they stay there for a whole month! I loved it!We said our goodbyes a short while after, because we had barely covered any distance yet that day and our feet were antsy for the miles we had to go. Oh course, we had our steepest climb on the whole At right after that, Mt. Albert. it was short, but brutal, but with the great reward of a beautiful view provided by the fire tower on the peak. There was a group of us on the top at the same time, including Matt from the Blueberry Patch, a girl named Kelly, a skinny guy with a trail name Two Shoes, and Gatorade. Many pictures were taken on this clear and sunny day.More trail magic was upon us. At the next major intersection, another trail angel named Crutch was there with fruit, soda, beer!, and balony sandwhiches. We didn't stay long, just enough for me to chug a beer and eat some fruit. Crutch mentioned he is going to some of the trail festivals so I might see him again if I make to either Trailfest in Hot Springs, North Carolina or Trail Days in Damascus, Virginia.As we climbed the dusty trail up away from the road, we came upon a cold stream filled with about fifty Capri Suns, just waiting for thristy hikers to pluck their chilled containers from the water. I tossed two in my side pockets of my shorts to cool down my legs for the climb. Another mountain down and we were at the next road. On the way over I ran into a trail angel named Artemius, who gave me two bananas and advised me to check out Max's place when I get out of the Smokies, along Rt.40. And right before I got to the next road crossing, there was a cold half a case of Pepsi waiting right by the side of the trail! It was incredible the amount of trail magic there was today!After that second road, Uncle John and I pushed onto the Siler Bald Shelter. it was a four mile hike, all uphill, and we were already pretty tired, but we made it. In the shelter was only one other hiker, a man who I could barely understand, his mountain North Carolinian accent so thickly flavoring his speech. A very quiet guy, who really only talked when talked to, which creeped me out. And we were the only three people in that shelter tonight so I hope nothing will happened. I believe I fear for my life.Dinner: Noodles, potatoes, cocoa.Another day, another mile.