Date: 2005-05-01
From: Apple House Shelter

To: Moreland Gap
Miles today: 18.0
Weather: clear sky

a sunny day, finally! and i'm sitting in a sunny spot to write this. it's going to be cold tonight.i didn't sleep well with all the mice running around last night. and i think i would had been much warmer in the shelter before. the barn was certainly large and charming, but part of its charm was its dilapidation. it offered almost no protection from the elements. at times, i could feel the mist falling on my face. everything felt damp. when i woke up, i couldn't see past the end of the platform because the fog was so thick. my thermometer read 32*. BRRR! i decided to stay in my bag until the weather showed improvement. i wasn't going to hike in fog. not to mention, the wind was an absolute bitch today. the wind finally cleared the fog and i started hiking around 11am. better late than not at all, though i would had gladly zero'd had the weather not improved.i quickly became overheated with the first ups. i took my layers off. then i came to the first bald and put my jacket back on. my legs froze. i met a couple of section hikers on some rocks out on the bald. romeo & ? with their dog. they pointed out roan and grandfather mtn. grandfather has such a dramatic profile. it was really cool. they also reported that there's no rain in the forecast for the next several days. hope that's true!the next bald was even bigger, with multiple false summits, great views, and still my legs freezing. the wind just put a chill in me i can't seem to shake today. that's why i'm trying to warm up in what's left of today's sun. hmmm. it's 80* in my pocket, maybe i should crawl into there back to the mousefest last night.i found a nice nest in the bottom of my pack this morning. it was part blue packtowel, plant matter, and something that looked like yarn or rope. none of the materials were mine. the critter did chew a hole in my pack liner though (hey mom, can you send me another compactor bag?) i found out later that the blue towel belonged to another hiker up in the barn's loft. they were busy mice. i'm at the apple house shelter. it's small and dark, and a half mile from the highway. i think yahoooos visit here, but since it's sunday, maybe they'll stay home since it's a school day tomorrow. there are 3 other hikers here so far, but still no ktr. i had considered hiking on, but thought i'd wait one last time. i'll do a big day tomorrow of 18 miles.the sun is about to dip behind the ridge, though it won't be dark for a couple hours more. i should brush my teeth, etc, and at least get into my bag. i look forward to kincora, a hot shower, and a bed.i'm thankful for the dry hiking yesterday going over roan, and for the sunny skies today out on the balds. i read in the shelter register here that the nasties got soaked going over the balds and had gone into town to dry out. i miss the nasties and tree trunks.2 mayslow leak was rescued this morning by wife dorothy and bob (?) all the way from ohio! it's amazing how quickly things can happen --- thanks to the help of a father walking up to this shelter looking for his son. he met slow leak here and made some phone calls to arrange for slow leaks's 'rescue'. (this shelter is only 1/2 mile from the road)well, i better get moving here if i want to make my rollercoaster miles today. clearwater and birdhouse bob walked down to the road already to hitch to the town of roan for breakfast. i have the shelter to myself and a pot of strawberry oatmeal waiting to be devoured