Date: 2006-04-19
From: Roan High Knob Shelter

To: Overmountain Shelter
Miles today: 6.5
Weather: moderate rain

A great day on the trail. Nice how a good one can completely turn things around. Two in a row is like a party. All the days together make the full experience, but the treat days, especially when unexpected, put the hike back on track.We woke up to thunder, the same as we went to sleep. No signs of clearing. One by one, we each resigned ourselves to staying put in the cold cabin on the mountain.The quieter set, Me, Pi, Junko, Free and Iron Wolf stayed downstairs talking. The louder group, Squirrel, Leprechan, Rat Pack and Krush stayed upstairs playing a loud card game which demanded they pound the floor and yell.Around 10:30 the sky began to clear and hikers jumped into action, gathering gear and packing packs, each one heading down the trail.I was out and slipping along through the mud. As I promised all, I took 3 more falls for a total of 40. Luckily I had changed back into my wet clothes with the dry safely wrapped in my pack. After a few gradual ups and downs I arrived at the next gap. There was a road and parking and I was happy to see Squirrel and Rat jonesing a ride from Coyote and Gumbie who had come up from behind.I saw Roan behind me and a couple of balds in front. It always amazes me to look back and see the distance I've come. It's always imposing when I can see the trail to camp in the distance ahead. When it's laid out in front of you, it looks like a long way off. When you're down in the trees like yesterday you don't think much about it until you are on a long, long climb up another mountain, in yesterday's case, one hell of a mountain. Either way you hike on.I followed Pi up the trail on the first bald. By now the sky was clear and the sun bright. We were still at a good elevation, over 5000 feet and climbing. Half way up the next bald, Jane Bald, there is a flat slab of bare rock and several table sized boulders, a good spot for lunch. I'm glad Pi just threw down his pack. I'm still hiking in tense mode. His more easy-going style seems at odds with mine. We'd been talking about how to give into the true trail and get more from the hike. I gave in. I dropped my pack too and settled on the sun-warmed rock. The view was beautiful and I took the time to enjoy it. I leisurely made a sandwich of tortilla, peanut butter and pepperoni with carrot on the side. I sat eating and talking to Pi and completely letting go of the supposed urgency of getting to the day's destination. I'm finally doing the two things I know I should do: stop and enjoy the sights and enjoy the people out there with me. I relaxed and melted into the afternoon. As we ate we each talked about home. Pi's getting off trail in a couple of weeks for a wedding and to spend time with his wife. I told him about my stops and about missing Andrew looking forward to seeing --- Pi's in his 30s and writes software. He's the type who is always cheerful and takes each thing as it comes. He's hiking the way I say I want to hike. I'm glad I fell into the rhythm. As we sat, Iron Wolf pulled in followed by Free at Last. These guys have a slower pace than me. Had I kept churning on I would have missed a chance to share the views and visit and enjoy the day. This was one of those times when you don't want to be anywhere else than where you are.After lunch I fell into pace with Free for a while. He's in his 50s. He's from Erie, PA and he and his business partner just sold out to a larger corporation. He enjoyed running the company, but is now enjoying the freedom.I passed folks and hiked the trail into the woods, a pretty level ridge walk. The woods were beautiful, low hardwoods spaced to let in the light, green grass beneath and a carpet of tiny white flowers. May have been an orchard once upon a time. The woods got deeper and I came up to the next shelter, maybe 6 miles from Roan High Knob. Krush was there with Homeward who had missed the last shelter. He had spent most of the day parked where he was, just relaxing and reading. It felt a little like a theme. I sat down with these guys and again just visited and got to know more about who I'm sharing the trail with. So different from the frustrating and lonely days I've been having, not really willing to let everything in. As we talked, Homeward did what a hiker should do in this situation, broke out a cherry pie. It's been too long since i really let myself enjoy myself. It felt great to give in and be in no hurry. We said hello as Pi passed by. Free stopped to visit and adjust his pack. I've been taking more pictures of people I'm meeting on the trail and took another opportunity.While we were there, 4 day-or-so hikers stopped. They're taking several days --- as an extended bachelor party. Very original and a great way to celebrate. They were fascinated by the thru-hiking life and had lots of questions. Great because I love talking about the trail. I love the reactions. I love talking about something I understand. I love telling people that they can do it too.I'm at the next --- up the way, only 1.7 miles from teh last. They're never so close together, but this one is special. It's a converted barn in the middle of a field and can hold many hikers. Most stop here to enjoy the building and company. It's a beautiful green spot and the view is like none from any other shelter. If I stopped in the morning, I'd stay all day. We all settled in on the first floor where the fourth wall is missing and open to the view. As we prepped dinner, the bachelor party came in. As it got darker, a boy scout troop came in. I was talking with the leader and exercised my thru-hiker perogative. I'm in need of a head lamp. Mine is back in the woods somewhere on the mountain. I asked the scout leader as well as the bachelors if someone would sell me a headlamp, reasoning that they would have access to an outfitter long before me. I'll see if it pays off in the morning. The thru-hiker routine opens doors and usually pays off.As we were all eating the bachelors sat down and had lots more questions. Most people ask a few and treat us like a rare species. These guys were really interested. They may have seen our freedom as a life they were leaving behind. We really enjoy talking to them. Being treated like a rare species is fun too. I like to casually toss off answers to questions I've learned by heart and to guesstimate mileage like it's of no real consequence. Yup, Hiker's ego.The scouts settled in upstairs and the party stayed with us. They wanted to do something for us and built a big fire. Like all groups out for a short hike they had lots of food. Like the good yogis we are we steered the conversation in that direction. It paid of with shared kielbasa, Ritz crackers and ended with cocktails.Krush and I nudged each other as we eyed a large bag of peanut M&Ms. We were standing around the guys with bowls in our hands just like Oliver Twist, "Please sir, can I have some more?"Headed for my tent around 10:00, an ungodly hiker hour. Chatted more with Krush, this time about faith. His father is an Episcopal priest. We found lots in common even though i'm a --- librarian and he's a former Marine.The trail is great. I love it here.