Date: 2009-05-12
From: Wind Rock

To: 3.3 mi. past Sarver Hollow Shelter
Miles today: 20.4
Weather: clear sky

The morning turned out to be foggier than the evening, so there was no chance of seeing a sunrise again... Oh, well... time to move on. Today would be a day of dangling caterpillars all over the trail, as well as swarms of flies at the shelters! Not the most pleasant areas to take breaks! I was constantly pulling webs out of my eyelashes and picking caterpillars off of my body and pack. I didn't think I would be encountering this problem so soon, and did not look forward to the days ahead, where it will rain caterpillar poop all night long! I moved on from War Spur Shelter as quickly as possible to get away from the flies, only to find another swarm of them while I ate lunch at Laurel Creek Shelter. There I met Big Daddy and IPod. Big Daddy knew who I was because he had been reading my journal, and was also told by Bison that I was close behind. I didn't know how Bison knew that, or even knew who I was!   I wasn't feeling particularly peppy that day, as it was quite warm, and I had had some tough, steep climbs. I made it up Kelly Knob, and onto a wooden summit, where a group was lunching. I continued past them, downhill to the shelter. There, I read about various people's exclamations over the great view from Kelly Knob. Somehow, I managed to completely miss this view!   I made my way over the meadows surrounding Sinking Creek Valley in the hot sun, at a pace that was much slower than I had hoped for, once again. I think I would have enjoyed this open section much more if it were cooler. I passed by some donkeys, crossed a road, and continued on through more grassy meadows. At the next road crossing, I found Big Daddy and IPod resting. I accidentally banged my leg on the metal barrier at the side of the road and grumbled. Big Daddy commented sarcastically that I looked fresh and vibrant. I just wanted to get this day over with. We were close to the Keffer Oak, which is the largest Oak tree on the AT in the south, and I desperately hoped that it was directly on the path, so I wouldn't have to exert any extra energy to see it. It was, luckily. I took my own power bar break just after it, and began my ascent up another 1200 foot mountain. There, I would find the sign to Sarver Hollow Shelter, which was almost a half mile down a very steep hill. I needed water, so I had no choice but to make the long descent. I had heard this was a nice shelter, and it was! It reminded me a lot of Goddard Shelter on Glastonbury mountain and I felt a great desire to stay there for the night, particularly if no one else came in. I was tired! I collected water, made dinner, and looked at my guidebook. I was stunned to find out that I still had almost 50 miles to cover if I was to reach Daleville by Thursday night! Wow! So much for the plan to stop and enjoy this section (with Dragon's Tooth and McCaffee's Knob coming up!)    Stone Brown came in, and Bison emerged from the bushes (in the tenting area... he didn't know who I was...). More and more people filtered in as I finished my meal. Bison encouraged me to keep hiking after I told him of my dilemma, even if I had to night hike, and said he was told there were camping spots after the ridgeline. He had wanted to get to Niday Shelter that night, but was too wiped out, himself. Once again, I said goodbye to the growing number of guys (9 at this shelter). I ran into Chance on my way up the hill (they all wonder why I keep going on every night when they all stop hiking at a reasonable hour) and told him the number of miles I had to cover in the next two days. He shook his head and said it wasn't going to happen- that I should just aim to get to Catawba on Thursday, as he was. I nodded in agreement.   However, as I moved on, his skepticism at my ability to cover that distance in that timeframe prodded me on. Oh, yeah? Watch me do it! I moved across the ridge as quickly as I could, once again, trying to beat the darkness. I came to a section of boulders that were sitting at a 20 degree slant, reminiscent of the White Mtns. I looked out over the view, put on my headlamp, and trudged on, carefully walking across the slanted rocks. I walked to what I thought was the end of the ridgeline, saw some trees to my left, and decided to set up camp there. The leaves were deep, covering unseen holes, and dead branches littered the area. It was not the best place to set up camp, but I was tired. It was after 9 o'clock, and tomorrow I could start fresh. As I staked my tarp, one of the stakes flew out of the ground, into the air. I couldn't find where it had landed in the darkness! The ground was covered deep in leaves. Great! Now what would I do? I kept looking and eventually found it! Another possible disaster averted! I went to sleep knowing that I would have to wake up early to get in as many miles as possible. The pressure was on!