Date: 2021-09-03
From: Roaring Fork Shelter

To: Standing Bear Farm Hostel
Miles today: 15.5
Weather: clear sky

I woke today in no particular hurry to get packed up. I relaxed in my hammock for nearly 45 minutes reading and then had an unhurried 30 minute camp breakdown. It was nice knowing I¢d have a short day to the hostel and that the trail would likely be kind. It was probably the latest I¢ve actually left a campsite all trip as I started hiking a little after 8. First order of business was the 2.5 climb up to Max Patch - a very popular ¢bald¢ that had a road and parking lot just .5 miles from the summit. There was a bit of an issue here last year when scores of people were camping at the top and left copious amounts of trash and debris behind. Due to that, they have closed the area to camping for the next two years. Kinda hard to imagine that people don¢t know that leaving your trash and unwanted gear just laying around is not cool. But, it happens frequently. When I got to the top I posted yesterday¢s journal and then checked on the result of the Michigan State football game from Friday night (go green!).  The summit of Max Patch was a swirling mist with the sun occasionally trying to poke through. I caught brief glimpses of the surrounding area that would be blocked by the mists again 30 seconds later. It was very eerie and Hound-of-the-Baskervilles cool. After about 30 minutes, I moved on. I did meet about 10 or so day hikers and overnighters throughout the morning and passed on information about the Roaring Fork Shelter where we had stayed and some were heading.  I also talked with a family of five who were out backpacking for 3 nights. They looked like they were having a blast, the youngest (aged 5) most of all because he wasn¢t carrying a pack. I have to admit, it¢s fun being seen as a minor celebrity when people find out I¢m thru hiking. Most will express curiosity about how much my pack weighs and if I¢ve seen any bears. Some ask how I manage to do it and I say in all seriousness: no one hikes alone. The support of my family and friends has been  indispensable and all of the people I¢ve met in towns and hostels make this possible. All I do is walk. At the top of the last climb I passed Quiksilver and Lamb¢s Ear as they took a sit-down break. It was a little over 4 miles downhill to the road at that point and I went out in front. I had thought that the silk blazing would be done for the day as I had passed numerous NOBOs. I was wrong. About a mile from the road I walked right in to a massive Orb Spider web across the trail (HOW IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE!!). It hit me in the face like a pie from a clown. Then as I reeled, the spider ran across my face and I stepped of the edge of the trail while spluttering and flailing about. Luckily a grabbed a tree as I pitched forward, but my momentum cause my water bottle to fly out of my pack another 20 feet downhill. I eventually managed to retrieve the bottle and about 27% of my dignity, then clambered back uphill and finished the hike. I¢m in a pleasant little creek side cabin adjacent to Quiksilver¢s with it¢s porch over the actual creek as I write this entry. We were cautioned by the Hostel owner that there has been a ¢curious¢ juvenile bear that has been crossing the creek and climbing the deck at times. So best not to leave any gear outside and maybe skip the screen door and close the sliding glass one. Can do. Tomorrow Lamb¢s Ear heads home and Quiksilver and I enter The Great Smokey Mountain National Park.  We'll bottom out a mile from here at an elevation of 1357 feet and then start the big climb into the park where we¢ll hopefully go over 6310 feet later in the afternoon. It promises to be¢¦fine.