Date: 2009-05-10
From: Mountain Harbor

To: Damascus
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

When we checked in to Mountain Harbour, Hostess Mary asked if either of us had been sick with stomach flu. She said several hikers had been sick lately, with one girl, Blue Sky, so sick they had quarantined her in the camper outside the barn. We didn't think too much about it at the time....We were the first ones up at the hostel, and grabbed a quick cuppa and headed out. Was looking like the first clear morning in awhile as we climbed out of town. We walked through wet grass, and our feet got wet anyway. The trail climbed steadily, and we almost missed several turns as the trail joined and left an old logging road again and again. After a while we stopped and ate cold pizza from the night before, and I drank a cold soda I had snagged on my way out. We both felt strong, and planned to do long miles this day. About 5 miles in, we came to the blueblaze for Jones Falls. We dropped our packs and walked the .1 to a beautiful 70 or 80 foot roaring cataract. The sun was shining on white water going over the very top and it was breathtaking. We took lots of pictures and soaked our feet in the rushing water. Would have been a great place for a shower if it was a little warmer. Around 11:45 we pulled in to Mountaineer Shelter for lunch, 9 miles before noon. Bronco came in just behind us, then 3 guys who were slackpacking the 24miles from Mountain Harbor to Kincora, the famous hostel run by trail legend Bob Peoples. Skipping Stone and PuddleJumper came in soon after, and we had quite a crowd. After lunch, I packed up and got ready to leave and looked over at Billy and he hadn't packed a thing. I knew something was wrong. After a mile or so down the trail, I asked him what was wrong and he said he thought he might have the stomach flu. Oh sh!t. We hit the nearest stream and tanked up on water, and tried to figure what to do. It was 10 miles back to Mountain Harbour, 14 ahead to Kincora. Only a mile back to Mountaineer Shelter, but why go back? Bronco came by and said there was a hostel only 3 miles up. I dug into my guide, and sure enough there was. We decided to make it. But let me tell you, that was the hardest 3 miles on the trail. Billy was so sick he could barely stand, let alone carry a 40 lb pack. I offered to carry it over mine, but he wouldn't hear of it. Took several hours, but we finally made it to the park bench on the trail in memory of Vango, and then the turn off to Abby's Place. Billy stayed up at the bunkhouse while I went down to the main house to make arrangements. Goose and Chewy were there, and Goose was just getting over the bug. He told me Greenlight had it the day after Blue Sky. Scott, the owner of Abby's Place had a seperate shed with two bunks in it, and we took it rather than stay in the main bunkhouse. Later I got a free burgher and chips, but Billy was not interested. Later, Whynot came in, and told me he had met famous hiker and movie maker Lion King at Jones Falls. Billy was disappointed we had missed him. The only consolation was that it rained hard later that night, and we were under a good roof. Skipping Stone and PuddleJumper and section hiker Shoe rolled in later, and we sat on the porch with Wizard and Mike and watched a giant beaver build a dam in the stream below the house.