Date: 2007-05-29
From: Standing Bear Farm

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 14.6
Weather: few clouds

Ant, the hiker from England, asked me last night to wake him, as we have established that I am a fairly early riser. So, apart from forcing myself out of bed, my first endeavor is to wake him up. Next, oatmeal is on my mind, and I really want to get on the Trail early, hoping to get at least 20-miles in today! The only problem is that 20-miles will take me right to Walnut Mountain Shelter. While I was hiking down to Davenport Gap, and out of the Smokies, I met two hikers, a father and daughter duo, named Deacon and Rugger. Deacon began thru-hiking Southbound back in '78, if my memory serves me right, and quit in Hot Springs. His daughter, the ever-cute Rugger, has talked him into coming out this year, 2007, almost 30-years after he quit, to finish his thru-hike! Back on subject: they warn me of the bears at Walnut Mountain Shelter, as 11-hikers, up to that point, have had their foodbags stolen from the trees by bears! I figure I have at least until Roaring Fork Shelter to decide if I am willing to test the tenacity of the black bears.With breakfast---which I enjoy in the company of Swoop, Ant, and Rockdancer---I enjoy a splendid cup of hot tea. Oh, the amenities of life left back at home, to embark upon this eager adventurous endeavor of mine (how's that for alliteration?). I enjoy hot tea as much as I do as a good, strong cup of black coffee, which I also miss much (although, I have coffee with every town stop).The joke regarding changing Standing Bear Farm's name to Quicksand is brought to the fore, as Royce tries to get me to stay for the day, going whitewater rafting on the Pigeon River. I can't take a zero here, as I've taken one just a few days ago in Gatlinburg! Also, I reason, this is a backpacking trip, not a water-adventure trip! So, I press on, alone. I had hoped to hike with Ant today, to learn more about him, but it appears as if he will be staying here for the day, being another victim of the quicksand!So, I hike out alone, headed for the first climb, which I've heard is rather difficult, to the summit of Snowbird Mountain. Boy, am I glad I didn't try pushing on to Groundhog Creek Shelter last night, as this climb is more difficult than I would've imagined just from looking at the elevations in Wingfoot! Not to be crass, but along this hike is also the first time on the entire hike that I have had to take care of business (you know what I mean, and not in the urination sense, either) in the middle of hiking. Generally, I've been able to wait until reaching a shelter, where privies are usually available. Today, however, I can't wait; nature is definitely calling, making my bodies phone ring off the hook!While I'm taking care of business, I hear some hikers pass by. I only hear them, as I have tactfully removed myself from eyesight of any passerby's to answer natures call. They prove to be the only contact with civilization I will have today, save for two girls I encounter later on.The grade to Snowbird isn't terribly steep, it's just really really long! These are harder, I think, and I definitely prefer the short steep inclines! So, reaching Snowbird Mountain is received with arms wide open. The vistas from the bald are beautiful, but the summit itself is kind of ugly. Recently, "someone" has downed all of the perimiter trees, thus rendering this mountain bald. The only problem is, they have left the trees, dead, in unorganized piles all along the Trail! It is terribly unaesthetic!Two-miles North of the summit, I reach Groundhog Creek Shelter, where I initially planned to bed last night. Again, I am quite glad I decided against it, given the severity of the climb atop Snowbird! I had already done 18-miles Standing Bear, and I would've hated every moment of the Snowbird Climb, if I had added that as another integer into yesterdays equation... Well, it definitely would've been a negative integer if I had done so!The Trail meanders throughout the mountains, with slights ups-and-downs, without many views. This is fine, as it helps me continue my mental adjustment to being out of the grand forests of the Smokies! Today, I will climb Max Patch, which is one of the mountains on the A.T. that is much talked about. At Groundhog, I see an entry in the register from Blue Skies, whom I'd met just North of Clingmans Dome, saying that it was nice, but no comparison whatsoever to Big Bald. I flip ahead in Wingfoot, locating Big Bald on the mileage chart, and see that it's a good 1,000' taller than Max Patch! Max Patch supposedly has the best tenting on the entire Trail, where one can watch the sunrise and sunset from the comfort of their own tent!I cross a forest service road, and pass through some stiles, knowing that Max Patch is just through the patch (no pun intended!) of trees ahead. Through the patch, a climb begins, crossing another forest service road, and coming to a signpost. Just .4-miles to the summit of Max Patch, it reads, and also points in the direction of a bypass trail. Booo!I begin the ascent, and am greeted by two dogs, barking at me! Two girls are there, who quickly dispell the canine display of protectiveness, and make small talk with me. After doing so, we push on our respective directions: me, North on the A.T.; them, back to their car, and back to town, wherever that may be.The climb atop Max Patch is nice, and the views are nice, save for some powerlines below, near the road. The mountain is beautiful and windy. The only "downer" is that the effect of the draught is evident, as much of the grass up here looks like overgrown brown rice, ready to be cut and put into a tasty burrito. I take many pictures of the spectacular vistas, and the wood posts, which serve as the Trail marker, as there are no trees up here.The next shelter, Roaring Fork, is just one-mile North of here, so I press on. I arrive shortly thereafter, and decide to eat my dinner while I further contemplate whether or not I want to press on for Walnut Mountain Shelter, despite the bear warnings.The meal is excellent, being a freeze-dried meal my parents bought me in Gatlinburg at the Happy Hiker. It is a spicey Asian dish, called "Kung Pao Chicken", if I remember right. My sinuses are completely cleared after eating this!The hour is 4'o'clock, and I know that I definitely have the energy to push on 5.7-miles more to Walnut Mountain; there's just that sticky issue of the bears. I need to be making big miles, and I always sleep near the shelters, so I can accurately guage my mileage. It is 13.1-miles from Waltnut Mountain to Hot Springs, and 18.8-miles from here. I decide that I would rather hike 18.8-miles into town on a full stomach, than 13.1-miles on an empty stomach, assuming the bears are as tenacious as I have been told.Alas, the hour is early. What am I to do with all of this spare time? I'm completely alone, and I seriously doubt anyone will show up, as the Trail was almost completely empty today, save for me. I am tired, so I decide to go to bed now, allowing me to awake earlier, thus allowing me to hike earlier, thus allowing me to finish earlier in Hot Springs (now there's a syllogism!). So, I chant my prayers (I am an Eastern Catholic, and it is our custom to chant our prayers, which I do only if I am alone, or in the seclusion of my tent, as I don't want to force my prayers upon others who might not be keen on it, out of respect for them), and I retire early. In fact, the sun is still out as I climb into my sleeping bag! Tomorrow, I will hike almost 19-miles into Hot Springs, resupply, and push on the following day! Oh boy, the first Trail Town!