Date: 2007-01-31
From: Cloud 9 Hostel, GA

To: Plumborchard Gap Shelter, GA
Miles today: 4.9
Weather: few clouds

Woke up at 9am and "Mr Happy" informed me that he would meet me at Winding Stair Gap & hike with me from there through The Smokies. I just woke up and had not had a cup of coffee yet. I am an impulsive guy at times & as I thought of how this would make my hike easier; I said, "OK". This meant that I could leave about 10 pounds of food, fuel, & other gear with "Mr Happy". He could bring it to Franklin and save me carrying it. Well, I started rushing trying to lighten my load without risking my life. The weather was suppose to turn extra nasty this evening and I needed to be careful. I hate rushing like this because it reminds me of rushing when I would go to work. I always seem to forget something. While "Crutch" was talking to "Mr Happy" about his conquests; I cooked four egg sandwiches. I ate two and packed two for the hike. I put about ten pounds of hiking stuff in a bag for "Senore Felice" to bring to Franklin. This meant that I had to set my first deadline of the trip. I hate deadlines! They were to pick me up @ Winding Stair Gap on Saturday @ 11am. Today is Wednesday. This is an ambitious itinerary for me and I knew it; but, I was flushed with excitement. I paid the owner of the hostel: Laura. She thought that I was crazy going up to the mountains in this weather. "Crutch" dropped me off at Dick's Creek Gap @ 11am. I started walking with some new Montrail heavy duty mountain boots. I felt that with the weather forecast that I would need more than hiking shoes. I hiked for about an hour and felt great. Nothing like 3 days off to rest the body. My eye had healed and the top of my foot was still tender; but, not really painful. Well, at the peak before Bull Gap; I noticed a hot spot on the back of both of my heels. I know that feeling: blisters. I took off my boots and saw the damage. I already had I dime sized blister on each heel. Man, I had done so well avoiding blisters to this point. Not a one. I also noticed that I put my duct tape in the bag that I left with "Mr Happy". All I could do was put on another pair of socks and tough it out. I walked on with moderate pain from my blisters; but, I knew that blisters usually hurt more in the hours and days to come than in the present. As I walked down to PlumbOrchard Gap there was a hundred foot ice fall. Absolutely Gorgeous. I have seen all kinds of ice formations since the temps dropped after the Hawk Mountain Shelter; but, this was by far the most spectacular. When I got down to the gap I sat down and ate my egg sandwiches. In order to stay on my schedule, I should go the next 7.3 miles to the Muskrat Creek Shelter. Damn, I hate schedules! If I went on, I knew that I would mangle my feet & I would not sleep in the completly covered in loft in the PlumbOrchard Gap Shelter. I decided to stay here. I walked down to the shelter where a "Lab Mix" dog came and challenged me. There were to guys in the shelter: Tim & "Whiz Kid" SOBO(this abbreviation is short for southbound thru-hiker & NOBO is for north bound Thru-hiker) 2002. They were in there zero degree Marmot bags(the same one I carry). As they were leaving, I warned them off the snow storm coming through. They said that it was going to pass south of us. I told them that I hoped so, but doubted it. Before they left, they gave me some duct tape and foam wrap for my blisters. I was asleep by dark and slept until the next morning very soundly.