Date: 2004-04-28
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Deer Park Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: clear sky

So, back to yesterday. After a false start about 100 feet going the wrong direction UP the road instead of DOWN the road, I made it to the trail by 8:30 once again. Myst and 5 Beers were close behind me and as usual, caught up and passed. Don't Mind and Don't Matter caught up on one of my photo breaks and I thoroughly enjoyed conversing with them for the first 7 miles. We were so concentrated on looking forward we nearly missed seeing our visual farewell to the Smokies. So we grabbed a couple Kodak moments and then moved forward. Destination Max Patch Bald ... and beyond!!I used this glorious day-after-a-rain to photograph flowers. Perhaps when I retrieve my flower guide out of my bounce box in Erwin, I'll be able to identify all these gentle magnificent blooms. Hopefully enough of the pictures will be picturesque enough to make for an interesting addition to a slide show upon my return.Now: onto Day 25 here at Deer Park Mountain Shelter. Myst's thermometer read 35 degrees this morning. Someone just said his was 31. It was not pleasant. Matter of fact, I was concerned about my thumbs getting frostbitten, they were so numb after filtering water. Of course, 20 minutes into the day's hike I was peeling off layers very quickly.Before I forget: Happy Birthday Roma! All these years out of school and I've never forgotten your birthday. All these years out of school and I've never sent you a greeting. So here I am 3.2 miles south of Hot Springs, NC, in the middle of the woods sending you my love.I do believe I'm losing some brain cells. I can hardly remember the day's hike I do know I spent a good deal of it debating stopping at this shelter for the night or tooling on into Hot Springs. (Yes, I was thinking about the goal and momentarily forgot to enjoy the journey.) At 3:30 I decided to stop. Why go into town and pay to sleep when I can sleep in the great outdoors for free?! The sky has been clear and gorgeous blue all day, the night proves to be quiet and dry. Would be silly to waste it in town. In addition, I figured the gang would all be putting their feet down here, too, and indeed, they are landing. It's tent city in the backyard. This shelter dates back to 1938, is showing its age. I think only 2 hikers are sleeping in it.Wildlife today! I saw a coyote dashing up the trail and the mountain ahead of me. We hear them every night but they make themselves scarce during the daylight hours. I was thrilled to see it. No bear sightings yet though. Several chipmunks crossed my path; I had a most comical conversation with one. Surprisingly it let me get within two feet of it, dashed ahead, waited for me, dashed ahead, waited, dashed ahead and waited yet again. I was wanting Dr. Dolittle's company to interpret its chatter for me, but alas.This weekend is the granddaddy of all bluegrass festivals. Several are hitching out of Hot Springs to attend. I was briefly tempted but quickly discarded the idea. Music consumes my real life; I'm out here to experience something else. I'm quite certain I'll take a zero day in Hot Springs. My knee is still very prone to aching on extensive downhills and long days. I truly want to hike into Damascus, VA for Trail Days as opposed to falling short, hitching a ride in, and then backtracking via a hitch back to the trail. But that means averaging 12 miles a day. Don't know if I'll make it; most certainly not if I took in this musicfest. More new faces: Sundowner, Pippin, Cowgirl, Jolly Time, DugDit and Backdraft.What an incredibly peaceful night. I think I'm going to sleep well. Lots of thru-hiking angels to keep me company.