Date: 2008-04-15
From: laurel creek shelter

To: pickle branch shelter
Miles today: 22.5
Weather: few clouds

Slept pretty good last night and got up on our usual schedule. Much easier and faster in a shelter with a roof. We were planning a bigger day today, but figured there was plenty of time to do it so we once again just went at it with a casual pace.A little chilly, but shorts and T-shirts for us hikers. Some frost on the ground even at lower elevations.Downhill and some rolling hills for a while. Crossed some pastures and cows, some interesting sties. Started climbing to our first ridge of the day and got to the Keiffer Oak. This is the second biggest oak on the trail, estimated at 300 years. Well, it was pretty massive, and had the biggest spread of branches I've ever seen on one. Pretty cool. Onward.The uphill was a little tough and rocky but we pounded it out. Stopped for a break at the junction with the first shelter of the day.After the shelter we were still on the ridge, but it got really rocky. We traversed slabs of rock on top of the ridge for a couple miles. This allowed for some great views. Came across some turkey vultures and got pretty close before they took off. Sweet terrain.After the rocks before we descended the ridge and started up the next, we came to a sign that said we were on the Eastern Continental Divide. Everything east of us goes to the Atlantic, and everything West to the Gulf of Mexico. I like all these random lessons and fun facts.Descended to a shelter for lunch and took a nice little break. Shoes off, always good.Onward to the bottom of the valley. We crossed a road and stream, and came to a cooler. This is one of the most welcome sights to a thru-hiker. We definitely were not the first people to hit it so it was almost picked clean, but we got some carrots, crystal lite, pretzels, and graham crackers. Always love the trail magic.After the cooler came our longstanding nemesis: Brushy Mountain number 6. This one was a 1500 foot climb. However, the trail was beautifully maintained and graded and though it was a tough pull we made it up pretty quick with only one brief stop for water. Needless to say I encountered little resistance when I suggested we stop at the bench at the top.Hiked on a little bit and came to the Audie Murphy monument. Audie is the most decorated soldier from World War 2 and his plane crashed near the spot of the monument. I really liked going past it, because of people like him, I am able to undertake this journey as a free civilian. I figured the least I could do was to stop and take a moment there in remembrance. Bad Humus has been carrying some blank bullets he found in Georgia with him. Most thrus {including me} carry something useless with us that we just carry the whole way on our journey. He had a couple extra, so he placed one on the monument. That was pretty incredible; he's carried that bullet nearly 700 miles and he decided to leave it there with Audie. Needless to say this was one of the better moments of the day.We hiked onward off Brushy Mountain. Will we see more? We hope not but you never know. Steep downhill.Brief break at the river at the bottom, then continued on a mile to the shelter. Arrived to find some ramen, mashed potatoes and oatmeal free for the taking. Awesomeness, we'll be full tonight.For dinner I had my usual {liter of noodles} followed by a pot of mashed potatoes and a ramen. This was a full 2 liters of food, and as I write this I could still eat more. I figure I ate around 1750 calories or so for dinner. Not bad and very delicious. Pretty satisfied for being on the trail.Humus, Toddy Bear and I hiked together all day today again and may continue to do this instead of going our separate ways. We are able to cover large distances at a leisurely pace by not having to stop except for the views and water/food.Great day on the Appalachian Trail.