Date: 2005-04-08
To: Muskrat shelter 
Miles today: 11.6
Weather: light rain

        I am now laying up at Plum orchard Gap for lunch. Today wasn't the best of days to head out into the woods. Not only was it cloudy with a chance of scattered thunderstorms. Not only did I have two ace bandages wrapped around my knee. Not only did my good buddy Brett decide to leave the trail the night before, but this mourning I come to find out that Ninja Dave is also leaving. Just great. There goes our merry band of men. At least Headfirst from Delaware is chuggin on. Sam-I-am and Origami are ahead by a day. Perhaps I will catch them at some point. "B"-man from Pittsburg just rolled into the shelter here and there are scattered hikers all over town, the trail, etc. I am not completely alone.        The 4.5 mile climb to this shelter wasn't bad. My knees don't feel great, but frequent little stops helps them a lot. I still made good time here on the gloomiest of days. I wasn't going to try and talk Brett out of leaving. I made a few points clear and left it at that. It is his decision and I don't want him being miserable in the miles to come. I am optimistic he will be back at some point, for how long I couldn't say. But for now I have to hike my hike and take it one day at a time. my first target destination is Hot Springs, NC where I can enjoy natural hot springs (hence the name). I will also enjoy the Great Smokey Mountains a lot. The next major milestone would be meeting my family at Harper¢s Ferry WV. But that is not until the 1000 mile mark and I still have to travel the 500 miles of Virginia. Hopefully they can make it down.-------------------Made it to Muskrat shelter. My legs don't feel too bad. My right heel still bothers me some. The Ace bandages help out tons. It was a nice climb today but not impossible. The shelter is full. I could have beat three people ahead of me to it, but I took frequent breaks in the last mile or so. About 7 in the shelter. Made it there by around 5:00 pm. I don't feel like writing anymore for now. I am not in the best of spirits, but maybe a hot meal will change things. ---------------------------The shelter floor was full. the last person to get there was right in front of me. I thought about throwing down on the floor because there was a 12x12' roofed vestibule type thing. but I decided that since I was kinda early, I didn't want to be disturbed or get in people's way. I could also try the tent out in the rain since its only scattered storms coming through as opposed to an all out deluge. I staked out a good spot and set up my tent. Then I did the usual gather water, cook food, eat food routine. As soon as I had finished my meal (Velveeta shells and cheese with dehydrated carrots and broccoli remnants) a long somewhat distant rumbling rolled through the air. Shortly thereafter, it started to rain small drops in large quantities. I decided to head for my tent and make sure my clothes that were hanging went inside along with a somewhat dry me. I laid down and watched the tent rood only a foot from my face. A galaxy of drops of varied sizes, gridded in by a massive network of bluish grey rip stop nylon, could be seen with the faint overcast sunlight. I laid there for a half hour or so listening to ¢Divided Sky¢ as I watched shooting stars of water collect and rocket through the vast nylon void. Finally through an eclectic acapella breakdown, I could hear that the storm had ceased. I felt fantastic and fumbled with the tent fly and followed the path through the forest floor to the shelter for a desert Snickers or two. I was hanging my bag in the shelter at the time along with everyone else presiding in the wooden structure. We talked about bears for a few (I told them of the bad bear situation in NJ, including the pony incident and the recent hunt needed to control the population), and I then realized I was unknowingly smart to tent away from the shelter. Not only was everyone hanging their food in the shelter for the night, but there was a partially empty, open container of tuna with fishy particles and pieces a long the table under the vestibule. Tuna is especially stinky and the bear situation isn¢t exactly great in this region, neither. I also remembered reading about incidences of a bear at this shelter in the previous shelter¢s register book. Therefore, I will hang my food and not chance having to hitch into Hiawassee to get new food because a hungry bear decided to eat everyone¢s bags as a snack. I am also glad I will not be sleeping at the foot of said possible bear. Goodnight (a bear never came to the shelter, but you never know).