Date: 2012-04-18
From: Devil Fork Gap

To: Jerry Shelter
Miles today: 8.7
Weather: moderate rain

A lttle about yesterday, and today:04/17/201I left home on the 13th to come back to Hot Springs to get back on trail. I didn't get here that day. I got delayed. I left home that day all packed and ready to go, I thought. About thirty miles from home out of the blue I thought about my boots. I stopped and checked, and guess what, NO BOOTS, no boots, no hikiing. I have had problems of all types in the past, but this was the first time I have ever failed to pack my boots. Nothing to get upset about, I had no schedule to keep. I stopped and got a bite to eat and went back home to get my boots. When I got home I decided to wait another few days before I started out again. The few days are up and I'm back here in Hot Springs WITH MY BOOTS. Left home mid-afternoon with the intention of stopping in about an hour to call the outfitter in Hot Springs to arrange a shuttle for tomorrow. About the time I thought about calling I received a call that took about twenty minutes. A short time after I finished that call I thought about the outfitter, but I was too late. It was after five and they were closed. I thought, no problem, I will just have a good evening and go to the outfitters tomorrow morning, I'm in no hurry.I got to Hot Springs and went to the new hostel that opened this year just a few yards off the trail at the town trail head parking lot just south of town. I talked with a man who said the hostel owner was not in at the time, but that he could help me. We talked for awhile and I learned that he was also hiking, but was now off trail for about a month helping out at the hostel. He was very knowledgable of the area and easy to talk with. After a while he showed me around. The Hostel has private rooms, and bunk rooms. I walked in one bunk room and several hikers were there sleeping.I walked into another bunk room, and there were only two hikers. I hate to say it, but the body odor was way-way too strong for me. One or both of them needed a bath very badly. I understand hiker body odor, I have smelled really bad sometimes on the trail myself, but I sure hope I was never as bad as these two guys;I got a private room, and got all my gear ready to leave in the morning, and then went to town and had dinner.When I returned I thought about Ruth, the lady who shutlled me my last trip. I called her, but she was in New York, but being the very fine person she is she gave me a phone number and said to call and that person would be glad to shuttle me in the morning. We talked a few minutes and she was in New York visiting her son, and other family and friends in an area where she used to live.I hung up, and a few minutes later I called the number and a man answered: "Hey Gene, I was expecting your call, how can I help you?" Ruth had called him as soon as we hung up. I made arrangements for a shuttle the next morning at eight to go to Devil Fork Gap. I finished up a few things I needed to do and went to bed.04/18/2012I got up about six. It was still raining. It was raining when I got here and it has been raining all night. I put some things back in the car, and went to town and had breakfast. When I got back to the hostel I met the owner and my first thought was Chuck Norris. Last night I was told that I would recognize the owner becase he looked just like Chuck Norris, and he very much does. We talked for a while. He told me that over 400 hikers had already stayed at the hostel, and things were good. My shuttle arrived and the owner told me I would like the driver. I said goodbye, grabbed my pack and went to the vehicle. I was surprised, because the vehicle was Ruth's vehicle. The man driving said: "Hey Gene, you ready to go?" The man told me that he was Ruth's husband. I loaded my pack and off we went. He told me his name, but I don't remember it. He told me the story of how he and Ruth met. It was a few years after she moved to the Hot Springs area. He said that he was in a local store one day and he heard a woman speaking with an odd accent. He could not see her, but knew that he had to meet her before he left the store. He located her,introduced himself, and learned that Ruth was from Ireland. They hit it off and later married and have been married for many years. Turns out, his family tree showed that he has family that lived in Ireland. He said it is a marriage that was meant to be and that they have always been happy together.The hostel owner was right;I did like this driver. He was full of life, and laughter. I have met and talked with people on and off the trail from all over the world. Hiking the trail the way I do has allowed me to spend lots of time on and off the trail. I must say, roaming around the trail towns and surrounding coutryside seeing all sorts of things and meeting and talking with people from everywhere, and from all walks of life has been some of the most interesting times of my life. This trip I'm hiking south, not north. I often switch my hiking directions. I do so sometimes based on trail terrain, safe location to leave my vehicle, and sometimes for no reason at all. This time I wanted to leave my vehicle in Hot Springs and I will hike back to it, and do a few things there before moving on. We arrived at Devil Fork Gap, and it was still raining, and it rained all day. I don't like hiking in the rain, but if you go out, you got to take what you get. It was not a hard rain, but a steady rain and in a long rain, before long you are wet from head to toe, no matter what your rain gear.A few miles into my hike I came to Flint Mountain Shelter. I stopped for a while to take a break from the rain, and just check out the shelter. The shelter, like most in this area, was very old and small, but still in good condition. Because of the rain I thought about staying for the night, but I moved on. A few miles down the trail I came upon a civil war grave site. Buried here are three Union Army soldiers, David Shelton, his Nephew William Shelton, and 13 year old Millard Haire. On July 19, 1864 The three were on their way home to a cabin on Cold Mountain when they were ambushed by Confederate soldiers and killed. They were buried by their families. Each year in July hundreds of people travel by motor vehicles, horses, hike, etc. for miles to hear speakers talk, and to clean and re-decorate the site. On top of one Tombstone there was a small wooden cross, and some stones. Nothing on the grave site was out of place. It seems as if even the wildlife, bears etc. give these men proper respect. I stayed for a while just taking in the beauty of this area. It is on top of a mountain, but this spot is flat, covered in very dark green grass and its size is about 200 feet wide and several hundred feet long; a beautiful place to be buried in the wilderness. On down the trail I came upon two or three more grave markers, but they only have a small stone marker, no flowers, and no upkeep of the site. These were men of more modern times without, as far as I know, any famous history. One site was where ashes were spread, one site was in memory of an ex through hiker. The woods here and all along the AT are full of history.I made it to Jerry Shelter all soaked from head to toe, but in good spirits. I spent the night here with several other hikers who also decided to cut the day short because of the rain. Yes, it was still raining.