Date: 2004-04-04
From: Fontana Dam

To: Mollies Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 12.4
Weather: few clouds

Day 22Back in the saddle again¢¦4.4.048amWell, after 4 days off, I¢m back again, a lot cleaner and refreshed. Got a huge boost from seeing mom (and Woody), and it¢s been such a long time since seeing Jon and Kelly, G & G. I don¢t know how old I was when I last saw her, but I think this was the first time I actually conversed w/ her.2:20pmBreakfast journaling interrupted by appearance of other hikers -- Riva Queen, PA Mule, Smoky Mtn Steve & son, Mumbles, Socks. None of who I knew. All headed up the trail today. Also met Cuppa Joe. Nice to put a name to a face. Holy crap am I outta shape. Not that I was in shape to begin w/, but I¢m hurtin¢ today. That climb up to Shuckstack. Whoa. Glad it¢s over, at least. Was gonna try to push past Mollies today. Rethinking that now. There¢s no sense in overdoing it, and it doesn¢t sound as if it¢ll be overcrowded. I think the big crush was yesterday -- 30+ set out. Today, maybe only 10. PA Mule & Ruby just walked by -- headin¢ to Mollies for ¢lunch.¢ Daylight savings has thrown us all for a loop. Haven¢t seen Roslyn yet. Met her w/ Mom & Woody yesterday, on our way from the dam to the marina to catch the little section I missed -- to make today easier. Really glad I did it, too. That was my first slack-packing experience. Pretty nice, walking w/o that behemouth strapped on your back. ¢Course, guess I¢m not a true purist now. But then, I skipped the first mile of the Approach, so oh well. They should have AT purity grades. Maybe I¢d rate a 95%. Pretty chilly and breezy so far today, but wonderful clear skies. A few patches of snow, but no depth. However, did run into a couple of guys hiking south from Rocky Top. Said snow was 2+ feet deep in drifts. Trail could get slushy and muddy. Just hope I¢m not in for more really cold nights. Hiked briefly this morning w/ Larry, who¢s trying to do 900+ miles in the Smokies. Look here, walkin¢ up the trail is none other than Sweetleaf.4:45pm40degFThink my thermometer may not be entirely accurate. Made it to Mollies Shelter. In for the night. Took my first spill today. A combination of gracefulness and gracelessness, a slide into homeplate and the toppling of a leaning tower. The trail was a muddy, mushy mess, compliments of the horse traffic (Horses, but no dogs?). My right foot slid in the mud. Threw my poles out to catch myself, to no avail. My left foot sought purchase and stability, instead planted itself in a super-slick spot. So, my foot slipped down the trail, coating my freshly washed pants w/ a stain of mud. (I think my attire extremely fashionable now, the dirt giving it that grubby, homeless look. Goes well w/ the dog hair Woody so graciously bestowed on me). And, where my left foot goes, so the right follows. Then, what w/ the ¢leg bone connected to the hip bone¢ and all that, my torso followed the lead of my lower extremeties and down I went. Still, I felt I had deported myself rather well. Maintained my dignity. It was when the monkey on my back got involved that things degenerated. My pack, w/ a will of its own, threw its full weight to the side, throwing me off balance, and my face straight into the mud. Thankfully, no witnesses and no injuries. Not a heartbreaking fall like Brother Nature. Just comical. And messy. Too cold to write more.