Date: 2013-04-26
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Sams Gap
Miles today: 11.2

I woke up earlier than most and broke camp by 8am. I said good bye to the crew even though I knew they'd all see me soon enough. Just a mile or so down the trail I ran into Lickety Split and Wonka breaking their camp. They're purposely avoiding shelters in an attempt to avoid the norovirus. We exchanged pleasantries.By 10am I arrived at Devil's Gap road crossing. There an Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) employee warned about a renewed norovirus outbreak. I told him I hadn't met any sick hikers personally, and slightly brushed off his warning because we've heard it a thousand times. Famous last words?After the road crossing came a very long ascent. I struggled slowly up the hill and as expected Tor Tor passed me. At a gorgeous waterfall, Lickety Split took my photo. Just a few steps past the waterfall I found my first morel mushroom of the season. It was a white one and I've heard they're the first to emerge. A bit further up the mountain i saw Vita. He seemed to be setting up camp for the day despite pleasant weather. I'm not sure why. Near the top, Cutoff and Vulkening caught me. They were short on fuel. I offered them some denatured alcohol but they needed canister fuel.I stopped at Hog Pen Gap Shelter for water along with most folks from last night's camp. They warned me the trail for water, although not steep, was long. Man was it ever and it seemed to snake on far too long. After at least a 20 minute round trip, I finally arrived back at the main AT turn off. Very soon after the Patriot and Wales showed up followed by Steph. I was pleased to see them and they caught me up on their hostel and slack packing adventures. They also filled me in on their intentions to stop at the cafe 3.5 miles off the trail from Sams Gap, our next major crossroads. They invited me, but I didn't immediately commit because I wanted to crank out the miles. We started down the trail and slowly the idea of a hot meal and company grew on me. By the time we reached Sams Gap I was committed to a cafe trip. To our luck we were greeted by trail magic!!! Stupid, a thru hiker from 1997 and his young daughter, were there with hot dogs, veggie burgers, cole slaw, chips, and drinks. I ordered two hot dogs and Wales gave me the evil eye. I justified myself by saying that I'm a trail vegetarian, meaning any food I cook or carry on the trail is vegetarian, but when "off trail" I'd eat meat, occasionally. He gave me a bit more grief, but that's OK because I need only please myself.By then it was already 5 pm. Stupid decided to shut down his trail magic because we reported we weren't aware of any hikers behind us. Wonka and Lickety Split continued up the trail. Cutoff and Vulkening walked up to the interstate truck turn off in hopes of catching a hitch to Erwin. Stupid offered the four of us a ride to the cafe and we accepted. Wales and I jumped in the bed of the truck and Steph and the Patriot rode in the cab. It was all down hill to the cafe, which didn't sound like a fun hike back.We all ate dinner, which was just so so. Wales picked up the tab as a way of paying us all back for previous expenditures. After dinner we just sat and sat because there was no traffic for a hitch and we didn't feel like hiking back up the road. It was procrastination at its finest. We had a good laugh when the Patriot asked the female cook for options and she seriously suggested we could sleep under the bridge. We're hikers, not bums, I mean we have Gortex and stuff! Near 7:30 pm, the Patriot broke down and said he'd pay for a hotel if we'd pay for a shuttle. Wales and I immediately bit and started making phone calls. Miss Janet, the area trail transportation angel, was busy. Instead we got a ride from Tom for a $45 fee. By 8:45 or so we checked in to the Holiday Inn and enjoyed a night of luxury. They watched "Bourne Identity", but I couldn't stay awake and conked out early.