Date: 2015-04-23
From: Allen Gap, NC/TN

To: Flint Gap,NC
Miles today: 17.1

The group gradually began getting ready a little after 7:00am. Not sleeping in tents allowed us to pack pretty quickly and get moving so we were all on the trail soon after 7:30am. The temperature only got up to the mid-to-upper 50's and, combined with moderate winds throughout the day, left us feeling chilled despite sunny skies.I spent the first few hours of the morning hiking alone due to a slower pace I've decided to take in order to ease up on my feet and knees. Musi/c and thoughts were my companions during this stretch. I reached Little Laurel Shelter after ~5 miles and quickly found the water source and had my share. I then retreated to the privy to rid myself of extra weight. Back on the trail I would continue battling thoughts of my purpose for hiking, my longing for caffeine drinks, and times I've failed and what it cost me. One moment you find yourself flying high, the next low, even on perfect days. Your thoughts tend to work themselves out; all you have to do is keep those feet moving.I soon discovered I passed the trail that leads up to Camp Creek Bald Lookout Tower, and continued to question my choice of not turning around over the next mile or two. My advice: if you have the opportunity to enjoy a good view, no matter how far out of the way, go out your way. You won't regret it. It's a humbling experience to stand above the surrounding mountains and take it all in. What all these thru-hikers out here are attempting to do is something truly bigger than themselves. To stand in awe of it all really helps to show how bad ass you really are.After continuing through Jones Meadow, I would meet up with Moosehead, Burnsides, and Hobble at Blackstack Cliff, a series of rock croppings jutting out above the surrounding trees, providing a 180-degree of the direction we've trekked over the past week or so. We took a break to enjoy one snacks, snap a few pictures, and take advantage of 4G signal which I took advtange of by uploading yesterday's journal, along with a couple pictures of the view. As we were leaving we met a thru-hiker, Stitch, and her service dog, Molly, who had no fear of heights as she bounced around from rock-to-rock, inches from the edge.The 4 of us continued the next ~3 miles over Big Firescald Knob to Chestnut Log Gap and Jerry Cabin Shelter. Once there backpacks were quickly dropped, waters refilled, and the best seats scooped up as we enjoyed a break for lunch. Several other thru-hikers, including Tick Tock, Hammer, and a man from Australia who decided last minute to hike the trail were among the crowd. After ~30 minutes, we returned to the trail in order to finish the remaining ~5 miles to our destination.We soon climbed up Bald Ridge, walking along jagged rock outcroppings, shoved up at harsh angles millions of years ago. As we neared the summit, we were awarded one of the finest and more unique views to date. To our east in North Carolina, mountains rose sharply as far as we could see. To our west in Tennessee, however, farmland and even a nearby town filled our view with only an occasional mountain ridge breaking the vast expanse of flatness. On one of the several summits dotting the ridge, we met 4 members of the North Carolina Mountain Club who had just finished installing a plaque commemorating Howard McDonald, a master trail builder who has over 9,000 volunteer hours on the trail. Of the members we met, one lady in particular has climbed over half of the world's mountains - her favorite climb most recently taking place in Bhutan. Even though they had spent the same energy climbing to the top of this ridge, they insisted we accept some Snicker bars and fresh vegetables. Unable to remember the last time I had fresh vegetables, I gladly accepted my share of carrots, celery, and cauliflower. Again, it's the small things.We continued on towards Big Butt Mountain, stopping momentarily to view the memorial of a former thru-hiker, Howard C. Bassett who died in 1987. A plaque rested beneath a tree, stating that some of his ashes had been spread here. The AT obviously becomes a special place to those who've conquered it's length.Up and over Big Butt Mountain, unflortunately lacking anything special other than its name, and it was a gradual downhill to our current campsite in Flint gap. On the way down, a sidetrail leads off to the Shelton gravesite, the spot where 2 brothers who actually chose to fight for the Union during the Civil War were killed by Confederate soldiers upon returning to the area.We rolled into Flint Gap around ~4:30pm and decided to call it a day after ~17 miles. We're only a mile from Flint Shelter and the next water source, but none of us felt like continuing. The negative, like last night, is that we have no water source and I'm currently out of water until we reach the shelter. Fortunately it'll take less than ~30 minutes to reach in the morning and I'll be able to fill up. For now, a thirsty night awaits.We quickly set up camp in order to take part in one of our favorite activities - eating. Moosehead and Burnsides built a fire while I watched the camp to make sure it didn't go anywhere. Dinner included rice, cheese and broccoli pasta, fire-warmed tortillas for the rice and pasta, and an array of snacks including Snickers, Fig Newtons, and peanut butter crackers. Everyone else admired my tortilla firing skills so I prepared each of them one which they stuffed with their own unique concoctions - red beans and chili, peanut butter and peanut M&M's, and tuna and cheese. It's amazing what a crunchy tortilla can do for otherwise bland food. We felt like kings for an hour.Tonight calls for the temperature to drop below freezing so our tents are set and we're mentally preparing to having to wake and get moving in the morning when our bodies will want to do anything but. My only motivation will be that of reaching the shelter and filling up on water. Keep that in mind as you go to sleep in your warm beds, a fresh glass of whatever nearby, and a fresh refill nearby in the refrigerator.Feel blessed, wherever you are.- Cambo