Date: 2003-04-28
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 14.2

Another great day to be hiking! Turns out it probably was a good thing I didn't stay on Roan Bluff ta watch the sunset last night- it really didn't rain, but there was some heavy fog or mist or something that soaked everyone who stayed there. Many folks just slept out in their sleeping bags (no tent), so their bags got soaked along with everything else. Ugh! So I got an early start this morning- just grabbed a Clif bar and hiked 4 miles to Stan Murray shelter, where I had a proper breakfast-> made coffee and all. Worried about my fate on the way there though. One of my guidebooks stated that there was restroom at Carver's Gap, about 2 miles from where I slept- so instead of digging the cathole, I thought I could hold it an hour. Of course, no potty at Carver's Gap, then I get among open meadows and balds- no place to have a "private moment!" Just about when I thought I would have crapped myself (so eloquently put!) I spotted a grove of trees down the hill. Needless to say, it was all I could do to dig that 6-inch hole and plop down over a fallen tree. I'm sure that's put a great image in your head now, but you just can't understand my panic! When I finished my "business" I looked up and realized I had sprinted football fields away from the trail just to find my cathole refuge- long walk back up!Once relieved, the day got much better. The Trail passed Overmountain shelter, which is a big barn at the base of farmland and mountains- it looked like a gorgeous shelter (if that exists)- probably one of the nicer ones on the Trail. The stunning red paint of the barn just made an awesome contrast with the vast green valley. The Overmountain Victory Trail crosses the AT here-> this was used by frontiersmen on their way from Sycamore Shoals to Kings Mountain, SC to defeat the British army in a turning point in the Revolutionary War. A good hike up Hump Mountains- set of essentially 2 balds with outstanding views, rock outcroppings-> beautiful and not a super strenuous climb either (but enough to keep ya warm through the wind). I think I got fried today with all the balds- even with my SPF 30. So then I'm be-bopping down from the higher Hump, in my own little hiker-zen state and suddenly there's about a dozen Longhorns sitting on the Trail!! Yes, I said Longhorns- as in big cows with big huge pointy horns!! So after I practically crapped my pants for the second time today, I skirted off the Trail and tiptoed around them- waiting anxiously to make it to the fence, about 100 yards away. All the bear-mauling and hantavirus stories Tom told me- and never anything about AT-hikers getting gored by Texas Longhorns!!Reached the shelter about 4:30 and was greeted by Sassafras and Flying Cricket! Yea! Two sisters from New England- I love them. Had an easy evening and shared their marshmallows over a nice campfire- dry wood for a change!! It was so great to have a meaningful conversation- have been sharing shelters with obnoxious folks lately, cussing boys who fart and want a medal for it. Early to bed tonight- hoping to hit this diner for breakfast tomorrow- it's about 1 mile off the Trail toward Elk Park. Nice shelter here though- right next to babbling brook (to hopefully cover up the road noise that's only 1/2 mile away), many tenting sites, blooming apple trees just across the stream; I'm tenting right under a dogwood tonight- looks about the size of the one in my yard back home-kinda miss it.