Date: 2010-05-01
From: Erwin

To: Erwin
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: overcast clouds

01 May 2010, Uncle Johnny's   We caught shuttled to Iron Mountain Gap and started at 7:45 this morning. There were seven of us that did this shuttle. Legends of the Fall made it back to Uncle Johnny's in four hours covering 20 miles. Krispy Kritter, Limestone, Bismarck and I hiked together all day and made it back at 3:30. I ran into Cedar Tree while heading south today. I told him about my Packa leaking and he said he would hook me up and help me at Trail Days. He told me that he was no longer doing a northbound thru hike this year as he had planned but doing sections instead. It was great running into him, I wished I could have talked longer to him but we had a lot of miles to cover and could not waist too much time. Truth and Muffin Man were the other two that join the shuttle with us today but they took off at a sprint right from the start along with Legends and we did not see them again throughout the day.   Early in the morning Krispy Kritter and I were hiking together and hiking up a mountain that was really getting to me. He explained that the best thing to do when the mountain is getting the best of you, was to take it slower and just do baby steps. I watch Krispy and how he tackled the mountain and tried his technique and it really worked for me.   We ran into Hollywood and Hedge Hog shortly after talking to Cedar Tree and Hollywood lost his collapsible seat that he had been carrying with him since the start of his hike. He asked if we could keep an eye out for it. We stopped to get water at Deep Gap and Bismarck found he seat in question. He tied it to his pack and carried it back to the Hostel. There was a hiker in his tent at the gap sleeping that woke up and told us that he stopped because his feet were hurting so back he could not continue for the day, I did not get his name.   The four of us stopped at Beauty Spot and had our lunch there.   We all stopped at Indian Grave Gap and Bismarck was out of water and he walked down the road to get water. He was taking a long time to get the water. I was starting to worry but Krispy and Limestone said he was fine and were tired of waiting for him and left. I did not want to just leave Bismarck without letting him know we moved on. I decided I would wait for him. It was just the right thing to do. He was gone for a while. Once he came back I told him the others got tired of waiting and moved on.   About a mile after Bismarck and I started back out Bismarck fell behind and I ran into Logos and he was dripping with sweat. I was sure glad we decided to hike southbound today. It was more down then ups heading south into Erwin.       As we were getting closer to Erwin we saw Noah camped of to the side of the trail by the stream. Shortly after that we ran into Red Stick. Just as we got back today it started raining about 15 minutes from the hostel. The timing could not have been better.   Dancing Wind walked into Uncle Johnny¢s this afternoon. It was great to see her again.   The first thing we did after returning from our slack pack was to take a shower, do a load of laundry. Then we caught the shuttle run to town and went to the all you can eat KFC, and to the Food Lion for some food supplies. I also went to Rite Aid to try and find some iodine. They told me at Rite Aid that I could only get iodine at the pharmacy counter and that the counter was closed for the day. They explained they had to do it that way because iodine was used in the production of meth labs and they need to keep control of it.   While we were waiting for the shuttle Jay Bird showed up with his full pack and when we said hi to him he grumbled something and kept on walking.   While waiting for the shuttle, Hopper called and talked to me. Krispy and Bismarck and Truth and all the others gave me a hard time about talking to her because I was always talking about her or I seemed to always be on the phone with her.   The shuttle to pick us up in town arrived late and the think the driver was drinking again. The shuttle driver told us when he dropped us off that only the people he shuttled on the 6 pm run into town could get back on the 8 pm shuttle but now he was not sticking to what he told us earlier and the shuttle was all screwed up and he ended up leaving people behind. Krispy Kritter brought this to his attention and he could not comprehend what Krispy was saying or it might be because he was too tipsy. While driving back on the shuttle Krispy mooned some vehicles.   We are undecided with what we want to do tomorrow. I really do not want to take a zero day. The weather is a big factor and the internet and the radio have conflicting stories. I do not want to get involved in rain a low temps going over Roan Mountain. I don't want to put myself in the position of being close to hypothermic again.    Here in the bunk room tonight are Krispy Kritter, Pepper, Chili, and Bismarck.   I forgot to mention in yesterday¢s entry that I ran into another guy from Maine. He is from North Turner and his parents live in Litchfield. He says he comes to Litchfield a lot to visit his parents and goes to South Monmouth Market. I am surprised how many people I have met from Maine so far. He is going by the name Moment.