Date: 2007-05-06
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: light rain

Sunday, May 6th, 7 amIt got even better! Last night Farmer, Mayo, Cobweb and I all hung out around the fire drying our clothes. Had a great time with lots of laughs. This morning it is still raining - lightly right now, harder a little while ago. I either need to do a short day (9 miles) to the next shelter, or go further and camp beyond it. There aren't any campsites listed in the trail guide, which doesn't mean there aren't any, but its a little iffy with the rain. I will probably wait around here a bit, not hurry to get going and only plan to make it to the next shelter.I waited until 10 am to leave the shelter. The sun peeked out a couple of times before I left and there wasn't any more rain. Hiked down into Devil's Fork Gap. The sun was fully out by then. I stopped to eat up in the woods past the gap. Then I hiked over the next rise and down into another gap (Rector Laurel Road). After that the trail was meandering, well-marked, and uphill. For about a mile it stayed close to a beautiful mountain stream, crossing over it at least 3 times (song of the day: Mother Nature's Son). Even though it was sunny, there was a breeze with a hint of coolness - great hiking! This part of the trail is on NC game lands. It has a different character than the national forest trails and fewer signs to tell you where you are.I stopped at a campsite to take a break but the wind was too chilling so I kept going. Within 30 minutes or so I ran into Jett James, Bubba, and two section hikers, Tim and Jeff, taking a break. I hung out with them for awhile. I had met Jett briefly in Hot Springs. Jett, Bubba and I discussed the merits of stopping at the next shelter to wait for the trail magic that will be at Sam's Gap tomorrow morning, vs. moving on, or camping at the gap or even a little ways beyond it and slacking back. I said I didn't want to stay at the gap myself (safety precaution, too close to the road.) If I stop at the shelter and wait for the trail magic, I will get a late start tomorrow and also have more miles left to do to get to Erwin by Tuesday night (28 miles). That would mean 2 longer days than I would like.I hiked most of the rest of the way to Hogback Ridge Shelter with Tim. Good conversation always makes the miles go by faster. By the time we got to the shelter I had decided to stay, go down for the trail magic in the morning, and let the rest of the hike to Erwin take care of itself. I pitched my tent behind the shelter. Jeff (I think) dubbed it "The Condo". There are lots of people at the shelter tonight, and about 10 tents. Too many people for me to list them all - I didn't even get all their names. I hung out at the picnic table by the fire for a couple of hours, knitting and chatting, mostly with Tim, Jeff, Rosie and Melk. Rosie is great! We have a similar sense of humor and got into some hysterical laughter together. Rosie is carrying mace and when I asked her how quickly she could get to it if she needed it, she admitted that she didn't even know where it was. That's what started the train of humor that ended in hysterics. Melk made the astute observation that the Appalachian Trail is probably the safest 2,000 mile strip of land in the country.Thumper caught up with me tonight and Farmer blew in before sunset.