Date: 2009-05-08
From: Allen Gap Campsite

To: Campsite close to Jerry Cabin Shelter
Miles today: 10.7
Weather: overcast clouds

The rain started shortly after I left camp this morning. I could hear the thunder almost immediately and, shortly thereafter, I found myself in a huge thunderstorm and a torrential downpour. The rain was coming down so hard that I could barely see 10 feet in front of me. As I was heading up the mountain, I had concerns about getting struck by lightening and what I would have to do should it actually happen. I became absolutely drenched, as did my clothing, shoes, socks, and backpack - even with my rain cover on! By the time I made it up to the shelter, I was cold and miserable. Transition and Bon Bon had just arrived to the shelter. Moonlight, Recom, and Ninja were already there. During this time in the shelter, we all sang 'Happy Birthday' to Transition, who was turning 23 on this day. He's a really good guy, so I ended up giving him a few liters of filtered water as a birthday present. I was so cold that I actually changed my clothing and jumped immediately into my sleeping bag. My stomach had started to growl, so I also began cooking a pretty hearty meal for lunch. While at the shelter, I talked with the two guys I had just met the previous day - Dangle and Collins. Both are really good people with some very unique backgrounds. Collins is just finishing up his degree in Irish history, having studied in Belfast, Northern Ireland while on his 6-month abroad adventure. He hopes to go back to Millersville after the trail to finish up his degree and, potentially, pursue an advanced degree back in Northern Ireland. Dangle did go to college, but figured out that it wasn't the best fit for him and he is now in Elizabethtown working as a cook. Both are really good guys. After being the shelter for an hour or so, the skies parted and the sun that we had been missing for so long came out and sprinkled some happiness on us. As I reluctantly climbed out of my comfortable sleeping bag, I realized that the gnats were back in full force biting away at our skin and annoying the absolute piss out of us. Around this time, I also realized that my camera had somehow become completely saturated with water. It was stuffed into my rain cover for my pack, but I suppose that it had rained so much that the water just came tumbling in. I shouldn't have put it in there! Right now, the LCD screen is completely screwed up and might not even work. Most of the other hikers moved on to the next shelter, but I stayed where I took off my shirt, listened to my audiobook and embraced the sun's radiant warmth. After spending several hours just lounging around at the shelter and talking to a few hikers, I pushed on. The gnats were now following my every step and it was becoming more and more painful. If you stop, they bite you. If you start to walk, they bite you. I walked for about four miles, but I soon realized that I had somehow managed to go astray from the trail. I climbed down an embankment that was at about 80 degrees. Almost immediately, my feet went out from under me (also due to my heavy pack and the steep incline), and I fell down the scree a good 10-15 feet. I cut up my arm and my hand pretty nicely, but I was mostly just in a daze. I still thought that I was on the AT, so I pushed on a little further not realizing the stupidity behind my thoughts. Finally, I realized that I wasn't on the right trail and how this could never be the AT, so I turned back around and climbed and clawed my way back to the top, using trees and rocks to pull me up. I did manage to get back to the trail, but because I was disoriented, I went in the wrong direction! Only when I met upw ith Pussyfoot and Ketchup did I find out that I had hiked two miles southbound! I didn't hit my heat or anything, but I was just completely out of it. So, I then had to backtrack and head two miles in the correct direction - the same two miles that I had just walked a few hours before. I put on some Coldplay 'Lost', which seemed fitting for the moment, and just moved to the rhythm of the music. It was a great inspirational song and it had me fired up to keep walking on. I reached some massive boulders at Big Firescald Knob at 5200 feet and took some time to relax and to enjoy the moment. On one side of the mountain, there were huge boulders and cliffs that led down into the Tennessee countryside. You could see flat land and silos on farms for miles and miles. In the other direction, you could see endless mountains. The contrast was beautiful! The sun had been setting, so I quickly pushed on thinking that I woudl be heading to the next shelter. Instead, I came across Collins and Dangle who had set up camp about one mile from the next shelter. I figured that it was a nice camping spot and decided to camp out with them. I'm really glad that I did. We ended up talking until 1:30 am about each of our backgrounds, perspectives on hiking the AT, life after the trail, and a lot about the culture in Northern Ireland vs. the culture in the Republic of Ireland. At one point, we made the long trek down the embankment to get some water. While there, we came across a small crawfish, which we scooped up and took back to camp to cook up. It turned out to be as red as a lobster, but the meat turned out to a meager amount. Regardless, we enjoyed the self-subsistent living style on the trail. Both Collins and Dangle were telling me how I should pick up some fishing line and a hook and to catch my own fish when we came to the next watering hole. I'm considering doing it, but we'll see if I'll actually be able to catch something and/or filet the fish. Under the full moon and the raging fire that we had going, the evening turned out to be very enjoyable. I will be looking forward to picking up some trail magic tomorrow that had been advertised. I just hope that I'll be able to catch it in time. I need to get some sleep! Good night!