Date: 2004-03-20
From: Thunder Hill Shelter

To: Jennings Creek (Campsite)
Miles today: 14.1

Apple Orchard Mtn5:30PM - Jennings Creek CampsiteThe tent in the shelter worked out well last night. I was no colder than on many other nights, but when I went out this morning it was quite cold. The main drawback was that it took longer to break camp this morning.In the first hour of hiking today I went by two well-known AT sites, both on Apple Orchard Mountain.The first site is a rock formation known as 'The Guillotine'. The Trail passes between two large boulders, and above the hiker's head is a third boulder wedged between the first two, as if threatening to fall at any moment. The Guillotine is one of at least 3 places on the AT known for their narrow passage. Another is the 'Lemon Squeezer' which is so narrow that few people can get through without removing their packs. That is somewhere here in the South, I believe, maybe in northern VA. But much more famous among thru-hikers is Mahoosic Notch, just across the border from New Hampshire in Maine. Mahoosic is a mile-long jumble of house-size boulders with a creek flowing below them, where everyone has to remove their packs, usually several times.The second well-known site is the FAA radar dome. It is a huge white sphere (probably close to 50' in diameter) on stilts, right at the top of the mountain. It can be seen from miles around. I have it in pictures taken two days ago from Little Rocky Row, and will probably get pictures of it still tomorrow.But the real star of my first hour was the mountain itself. I think it is the highest so far on my hike at 4225'. From on top I could see where I was nearly a week ago, and could probably see where I will be next week, bu of course I don't yet recognize those mountains.Another fascinating thing about the mountain is how it got its name. The trees on top are wild (probably oaks judging by the number of acorns) but they look more like apple trees in an orchard because they have been so severely pruned by the weather up there.Today is Saturday, and I saw a number of hikers. First was a couple of young fellows (with dog) who have just started hiking sections of the AT. They have covered about 50 miles in the last few weekends. Then I met an older couple who looked like they were experienced hikers, out for a day hike of a dozen miles or so. Finally I met a thru-hiker, Pop Pop 01, at a shelter where we had both stopped for a snack. After his thru-hike he hiked fron Springer to Catawba (about a week south of here) last year, and is now hiking from Catawba to Harpers Ferry.I saw lots of wildlife today: a deer, a wild turkey (who ran instead of flying), several grouse, at least a half dozen kinds of butterfly, and many more flying insects than I have seen in months, including mosquitos at this campsite.Today's hike was not as much up and down as yesterday, and was mostly down. But it is my longest to date, so I am a little beat. (To show how beat, mid afternoon I stopped at the Bryant Ridge Shelter for a snack. It was the most fantastic shelter I have seen so far: wrap-around porch, a loft area with plexiglas windows, built-in benches, and more. I made a note to describe it in my journal, but didn't think of snapping its picture until I was a half mile on down the Trail.) Since I will do one just as long tomorrow, I will sign off now.See you on down the Trail