Date: 2007-03-06
From: Standing Bear Hostel, TN

To: Roaring Fork Shelter, NC
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: broken clouds

Woke up late, around 10am. Santa's Helper left out around 7am. After 3 days off; I felt like this was going to be a good day. I checked my e-mails one more time before I left. As I was leaving Curtis brought me some chicken casserole and ki-lime pie that his wife maria had made. It was delicious. I did not know that ki-lime was kiwi & lime. I left in shorts. As I walked the .2 miles down Green Corner Rd to the AT; I saw 4 "good ole boys" that worked for the electric company. They said something to each other and tried to "stonewall" me. They just stared up the road right by me. I said, "what do you say, fella's". They just continued looking straight ahead. I said, "ya'll workin' hard"? This is a common southern work question that has a standard answer. I knew that I would break the silence. One old boy broke a smile and said, "hardly workin'". They all smiled at that and I started going up the mountain and said, "I heard that". The stereotypes of southerners is not quite correct anymore; but, the people in these parts still have tough, isolated lives. Curtis was telling me about a "city slicker" that came up from Florida and thought that he was going to build a bunch of resort cabins along a mountain side. Well, the folks here could not have their property rates going up; so, they burned his cabins down everytime he tried to rent them. He finally gave up. I climbed up Snowbird with alot of power. I can tell that I am starting to get some legs under me now. Snowbird is a classic climb of about 5 miles up to a bald spot where there is a radar tower. I have always climbed it during hot days. This was nice to go up with a nice cool breeze. I did have to stop once to drink some water and eat a snack. I did get a little chill when the wind hit me. I was up and over with only moderate effort. After a couple miles decending down to The Ground Hog Shelter; I felt a good day coming on. I expected to see "Santa's Helper" here. He was not here. I did see in the register that about 7 thru hikers had passed me while I was at Standing Bear(Ant, Slick Shoes, Whateva, Snake Eyes, Groovasauras, G-Man, Heavenbound). The next 6-7 miles to Max Patch are a lot of up and downs. They are kind of annoying; but, I zip up and down them. It is so nice hiking w/o all the ice and snow. At Brown Gap, I see a group of about 12 people. It is a bunch of college kids on spring break from Bowling Green St Univ in Ohio. I ask one guy, if he has seen an old guy. He said, "yes, he is right here". I walked through about 7 girls all laying out their stuff for the evening. One of them sees me and says, "now we have a party!" I said that I was just here to check on "Santa's Helper". I asked him if he was ok, he said he was. I shook his hand and said goodbye. I told the girls that I would like to stay; but, I wanted to see the sunset on Max Patch. I thought that I must be losing my mind! I get to Max Patch right at dusk. Simply spectacular, I could see way back into the Smokies. Max Patch is over 4,000 feet and it is all grass. It has a 360 degree view. Ive camped up here several times. The wind is picking up now and the temperature is really dropping; so, I wont be camping here tonight. It's too unpredictable. As I descend, I start losing feeling in my hands, ears, and face. I stop and put on my mitts and turtle fur baklava. I also get out my headlamp as it was getting dark. There is still about an inch or two of snow. It made the hiking slippery again. I get close to the shelter and smell a fire, yes! I walk up and two guys get up from the fire and make room for me in the shelter. They are the other group from BGSU. I do my evening chores and dry out by the fire. They ask alot of questions and I give alot of gratified answers. I am really beginning to enjoy people. I see so few. I lay down; but, I do not sleep well. I am very happy with my trail miles though.