Date: 2010-04-28
From: 501 Shelter

To: Eagle's Nest Shelter
Miles today: 15.1
Weather: light rain

2 report. Some words about the 501 shelter. Most AT shelters are 3-Sided log cabins built for 6 hikers. The 501 is a former out building to a nearby home. It has 6 double bunk beds, a large skydome, a solar hot water shower and running water and an AC outlet from the house. The shelter soon began filling with hikers: family of 3 SOBO section, another 2 from TN also SOBO section and then Fahmah and Klipspringer, NOBO thruhikers who left Springer Feb 1. We ordered pizza delivery and it was quick, hot and very large quantity besides quite tasty. Wind really started picking up and temperatures were falling.  The hostel lady came by, said she tried to phone us to say the hostel was closed and mentioned she would return at 0700 with a coffee pot.  We all went to bed quite early. It was a bright full moon and kept the shelter well lit thru the skydomeWe a got up and stirring kinda of early. JP was first out and said he would wait for me at a Memorial marker if I didn't catch him. A truck came by and delivered a porta potty right next to the shelter at 0700. ( the hike to the former privy was a good hike). Around 0715 I figured here wouldn't be any hot coffee and left. It was a pleasureable morning hike, generally agreeable terrain and comfortably cool. And then the Boulder field....Double blazes here can mean just about anything. I arrived at an intersection, heading N with a double blaze marker. Straight ahead was alarge boulder field with a heavily travelled dog leg trail. I followed that trail, saw a blaze on a tree and another on a boulder just inside the boulder field. This field was probably 100 yds wide and 1/2 mile or more longer. I carefully started boulder hopping and couldn't see any more blazes. Went out about 100 yds and decided this was not good. Turned E and saw what looked like a other double blaze. Half way there I could see this was false and decided to return to my last known position. I inadvertently overshot this and came out on a trail just W. I could see a blaze E and continued W expecting to see other blazes. After a good hike with no more blazes I stopped to try to figure put where I was. I even brought out my iPhone map. One thought was that the unblazed trail W was a service trail used to bypass the boulders. My guidebook was indicating continuing N thru the boulder field ansd the iPhone indicated S to get back on the trail. Nothing seemed to indicate hiking E.  I decided to return to the blazes and do some more figuring. I got back to the double blazes and it couldn't have more clearer with a flashing red light. Here was a sign indicating "Boulders" ( Duh. You think) with double blazes all over the place. I was so happy to see blazes again I didn't even complain about hiking up the hill. Infact I was cruising. Crested the hill and I was zooming downhill when I ran into Fahmah and he wasn't lost!!  I turned around and said we were 1/4 mile from the boulders. He didn't remeber the boulders and after hiking 1/2 mile asked how much further was this 1/4 mile. About another 1/2 mile. We get to the double blaze maze and it's quite clear now which way the trail goes. Maybe there should have been a flashing red lite.  Fahmah decided to wait there for Kliphamger and I really pressed on trying to catch up with JP IBBG. I guess I lost about 2 hours at the Boulders.  I took a couple of rest stops ate some of the Stromboli and met up with JP just as he was leavingWe hiked up to the Eagles Roost shelter and  picked some fiddleheads for dinner. For those not aware of fiddleheads think of small wild asparagus. Got to the shelter filled the water bladders set up camp And fixed dinner. Fahmah and Kliphanger arrived shortly and we are getting ready to call it a nightJP saying #1:  hiking and trying to maintain body heat is really a challenge when one moment you're on the verge of heat exhaustion and the next moment you're on the very of hypothermia. Not repeat thruout the dayPs. Fiddleheads are good and some of my followers can quit worrying about me catching scurryTeaser for tomorrows reportLife is Great!