Date: 2011-04-17
From: Low Gap Campsite

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: clear sky

Today was all about thinking about food, an upcoming nero into town with an all you can eat pizza place does that to you. We have 5.7 miles to get to Erwin in the morning and everyone has agreed to get up early so we get the most of it. Today started out really cold, below freezing according to the ice on my tent and the sleet we got during the night. Was hard to get moving but I was in no hurry and didn't get out of bed until 8 and not on the trail till around 9-9:30. The wind was extremely loud and hard last night and kept shaking my tarp and knocking over my tent poles i was using to prop up the sides. Had it in a flying pyramid to block the wind and the poles extended the leg room. Both AJ who has an official trail name now and I heard something across the creek we where near last night. Nothing was gone in the morning and we have concluded it was probably a deer. Didn't move around to much and such. First thing in the morning was to climb Big Bald. On the way up, the ridge was covered in rime ice and the wind had not relented yet. On top of the bald the wind kept knocking me off the path and I had to lean while walking. Everything on top was covered in ice and there were great views. A little later I got out a call to Chris to wish him happy birthday. While talking to him I actually passed a deer on the side of the trail as we were talking about animals I had seen, which pretty much only include deer and snakes. Further up the trail just before we get to Spivy Gap a guy passes and ask it I want some candy. I say yes and mention that isn't there some warning about that. He proceeds to take out Pringles, Oreos, and the candy easter eggs that I can't remember the name of. His pregnant wife also walks up as well. They hiked the trail in '03 (I believe is what they said) she was snotrocket and he was dingleberry. Pappy had actually read their jounal. For a change the last few miles of the day went by really quick and easy despite the 800 foot climb out of Spivy gap. I think the cooler weather made the big difference. Once at the shelter we couldn't decide to push on a few more miles or not and once Shepherd arrived we where staying. Would have to carry all of the cooking water plus tomorrows from here as there are no more before town. Prime time out here is bear bagging time and tonight was a good night. Hover some how tangled her line and it wouldn't slide back down. Fiber tried and got the bag actually wrapped around the tree. All the video recorders turned on and we tried a few thing including tying the other end to another tree and trying to walk on the line to pull down the branch. Eventually it took 4 of us to pull the branch down, and nothing was broken, except the tree. So AJ has accepted Veto spoken in italian as his trail name. He always vetos names we give him. Veto worked and fitting as he says with his italian heritage and greasy mustache as he calls it.So I know its been a while for an update but AT&T doesn't get very good signal after leaving Georgia. So bare with me on my extended runs, this 6 day outing is one of the longer between towns other than the next on leaving Erwin which is another 6. Will post when I have the signal and the time which might be tomorrow morning when waiting for pizza place to open.After actual walking of 20 miles yesterday I didn't feel to bad today doing the almost 15. So we look forward to pizza tomorrow then we are resuppling and get to use a grill to make dinner at Uncle Johnnys hostel where we are staying. Hamburgers and such, might get some brautwurst to carry out for lunch the next day as well. Will also be making up some grilled stuffed jalapenos which some of the group has never had. Veto said if it was half as good as the gravy it should be good, that's good to hear. Ice cream is also on the menu and this time none is getting left behind. Time to make a menu and get some sleep.