Date: 2004-05-01
From: US 321

To: Nick Grindstaff Monument
Miles today: 16.8

Bob Peoples was outside at 5am this morning collecting the May dew with which to mist the hikers before we all set out for the day. It's part of the Celtic Beltane tradition and is supposed to ensure each of us safety and good health for an entire year. Had I known I was going to fall on my butt later that day I would have asked for my own bottle. Seriously, it was a beautiful ritual where we all gathered on his porch while Bob explained the May dew tradition and then turned in a circle sprinkling the May dew on each of us. It was a really touching way to start the morning and put a nice feeling in my heart.Van Gogh, LudaChris, and myself were dropped off at the trailhead around 8:30 or so. We hiked around and then over Watuga Dam and stopped at Vandeventer Shelter for lunch. It had been raining off and on during the morning and the air was incredibly hot and humid. I was sweating in no time and feeling especially slick because I had showered that morning and put lotion on my skin. Despite the slimy feeling I think I prefer it to chafing. Bob had given us the heads up that there was a nice outcrop behind the shelter overlooking the lake on which we should park ourselves and have lunch. The view was awesome, with the sun poking through some gray and patchy low-lying clouds, but the outcrop was slippery requiring thoughful foot placement. My mount was a success but dismount was a disaster. By the time I had finished eating the rocks had become rather crowded with fellow hikers so I knew getting down was going to be a bit tricky. I stood up and consulted LudaChris "What do you think is the best way to try and get down from this thing?" I asked. He thought for a second, and the suggested I come down by way of where he was standing - a fairly shallow route. I said "OK" and took one step which technically didn't really even qualify as a step because I never made any sort of solid contact with the rock. It was like my foot on a banana peel in an oil slick on an ice rink. I went down like lead squarely on one side of my butt - my own alternate route down. It looked like it hurt, it sounded like it hurt, and it hurt. In fact, in between mouthfuls of peanut butter, the other hikers managed to glance my way and offer comments like "That must have hurt" or "Sounds like that hurt". Thanks guys - love ya. Not like I wanted you to rub my butt but a little sympathy would have helped. I think I set the record for quickest dismount from the outcrop behind Vandeventer. I don't think I get any sort of prize, except some bruising and a nice welt.Sun came out after lunch and sucked the moisture from the ground holding it in the air and making it feel like a rainforest. It was stifling, but only 7 miles to the next shelter. We made it to Iron Gap Shelter by 4:15 but decided to press on because it was so early. Another mile and a half and we reached the Nick Grindstaff Monument which honors a hermit that lived there in the thirties. His epitaph reads "He lived alone, he suffered alone, he died alone". Chilling. We found a nice campsite and pitched our tents before the rain started again. Van Gogh and LudaChris went through their nightly ritual of rebuilding the fire ring requiring the transport of huge stones from a neighboring campsite about 50 feet away. I casually bowed out of the manual labor by busying myself collecting matchstick sized firewood. Looks like I'm helping but the effort is minimal. As a former Marine, I'm sure Luda noticed my slacking but then tossed it under the "girls shouldn't have to do heavy lifting" excuse which I use when convenient.Had a nice evening and a roaring campfire. Excellent conversation - some of the best we've had to date. Even had a few Oprah moments in there - touching to see the boys come out of their shells - if only briefly. I'm blessed to have found these companions so early on and to have been able to stick with them for so long. They're good people. As Oakie said, it is indeed the people that make this experience for me. I will soon lose them after Damascus because they are keeping a grueling schedule, but I appreciate the time we have together now. They'll always be my trail friends.