Date: 2004-02-10
From: Standing Indian Shelter

To: Big Spring Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: light rain

Log entry: 10Starting time: 0930Ending time: 1530Overnight weather: Rain, 36Morning weather: Rain, high 30sAfternoon weather: Rain, 42Evening weather: Rain, 38Breakfast: CIB and pudding, peaches and cream oatsLunch: Nutty bars, pop tarts, austin cracker sandwhichs, MRE crackers and peanut butterDinner: Creamy potato soup w/croutons and ham...chicken noodle soup with Townhouse CrackersTrail description: Gentle grade until Mt Albert, then very steep and technical, but SUPER FUNPeople: No oneAnimals: Squirrels and birdsMoney spent: NoneBiggest complaints: No views, shoulder hurt, back a little stiffThoughts: I think I came up with the perfect breakfast today!!! Start out with 18 oz of water, add 2/3 cup powdered milk. Then 2 pouches CIB (Carnation Instant Breakfast). Stir then add a pouch of instant pudding and stir a while. Drink as you like or sip it and let it thicken. It is so filling and it sticks with you for miles. Today I went with chocolate CIB an added chocolate peanut butter pudding mix. It was all I could do to finish it.Things got packed up smoothly and I spent half an hour lashing the 2 sheets of plastic to my pack to serve as raincovers. They really did a great job, better than my osprey one did.The trail today started with along friendly climb up standing Indian Mt. It was raining softly and foggy, so there was no view from the summit. After coming down the mountain the trail levels off and winds through all kinds of Rhododendron thickets. As you walk there are signs all around you that say, "North Carolina Bear Sanctuary". Good to know since it was so foggy and the brush so thick that I would have had to almost step on one if I wanted to see one.I came upon Carter Gap shelter and ate lunch. I thought that I really took it slow climbing Standing Indian, as I didn't want to sweat in my raingear. And I remained dry but must have kept a pretty good pace ater that because I made 7.6 miles in 2.5 hours. I ate a big lunch because I had no idea what the climb up Mt Albert would truly be like. From what Dave told me and according to my profile maps, it looked liked I may need rope and ice axes.With full belly I made great progress. The climb from Mooney Gap to Albert is cool the whole way. It starts out as just plain steep, but soon turns into rocky, ankle eating climb. Had it not been for the ice, high winds, and rain I do think I would have giggled the whole way up. As it was I was chuckling. I was wondering when the official Mt Alber portion was to begin, and it was obvious. Most of the 3/10s of a mile climb I would throw my poles on ahead of me. A couple times it felt like I was doing "dips" like I do back at home in the gym.I prayed a heart-felt prayer of thanks when it was all over. I will for sure have to come back and do it again to enjoy the climb and hopefully the view. There is also a neato fire tower but I did not climb it for fear of getting blown off the Mt. A short half mile jaunt and I am at Big Spring Shelter.I visited the 4 star privy, pumped water, and then changed into dry fleece. Mmmm comfy.....I did a meal status check and found myself to be 2 days extra. We can't have that so I first fixed potato and then chased that down with chicken noodle.Now that I am done journaling I am going to read for a while and then turn off the headlamp and sleepy time for officer taco...