Date: 2008-04-27
From: A Cozy Cabin near Bryson City

To: Birch Spring Gap Campsite
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: moderate rain

Weather cloudy and with rain in the forecast. After another feast of a breakfast (7 eggs+++) Connie, Bobbi, Antonio & I packed up and prepared to leave our weekend retreat. On to Fontana Dam to drop me off where we met on Friday and they to their long drive home and me to walk into the Smokies. We stopped at NOC for a fuel canister for me and for them to see it. It was a bit strange to be back there as this trip is all about moving forward. Was tempted by other gear in the outfitters, but left without any. So far I've managed to avoid the impulse buying of new gear as many do. My my gear working pretty well, there doesn't seem much need. Weight savings are only achieved now by shedding ounces by investing in slightly lighter weight stuff or by giving up good, comfortable gear for the ultralight options - like trading in the tent for a tarp, camp shoes for flip flops. I had Connie bring the scale up and weighed the pack fully loaded with food for 6 days, 2L water and fuel and it weighed in at 36 lbs. I'm okay with that, but I know my shoulders and legs would feel better with 28 lbs. I'll wait until the potential winter weather risk has passed to try to get there.Parting with Connie and Bobbi & Antonio was a bit of a downer, but surprisingly the trail was calling me back after just one day off. I really felt like i needed to hike. So we said our goodbyes and they watched me cross the Dam and go into the dark woods of the SMoky Mountain National Park. The Smokies are a bit different than other sections of the trail. First of all, all the hikers were worried about the Dam in that it closes when the terrorist threat level is increased and hikers then have to do a 17 mile steep detour around the Dam. So I was relieved to be waving goodbye at 3:15 from the middle of the Dam as my wife and friends left for home. It sprinkled and was humid as I hiked alone into the woods. Wearing a raincoat in these conditions was way too hot and the sprinkles felt good. Once again, the trail gets your heart cranking from these low spots (like a Dam) by climbing back up to the ridge line so I struggled up, trying to regain my trail legs. I had just turned my cell phone on when I got a call from Mr. J. I wondered as I went to answer - was he calling from an airport bar before flying home? No it turned out, he was a the campsite and Jason (trail name now officially Silent Prayer) had not showed up and he was worried or wondering about me. I assured him I was on the way and pulled into the camp about 6pm without really getting rained on. On the way I met two girls who had hiked with Creeper for a weekend and an older couple. The older couple had hiked almost all the Smoky Mtn NP trails and were on their last 45 miles of 900 miles of trails. They told a few stories of bear encounters and I was much more alert the rest of the way. The Smokies has a reputation for bears being habituated to humans and coming around the shelters. Mr. J started a fire after dinner and no sooner was it going than the skies opened up and it rained the rest of the evening and all night long.