Date: 2009-05-19
From: OverMountain Shelter

To: Apple House Shelter
Miles today: 8.5

Awoke to a bright, clear, and cold morning. Frost everywhere, especially in the field at the bottom of the valley, which was all white before the sun got to work on it. Out at 0835 and heading to Apple House shelter, then evaluate going on to the next shelter. 1015 and I¢m near the summit of Hump Mtn. and have taken several pictures of these bald mountains ¢ very beautiful. Made it to Apple House shelter at 1315.   Chef, Nano, Walking home, and Skree Freak (¢the kids¢) are here and are talking about going to the next shelter or even further for a 30-mile day. According to the map, tomorrow¢s hike has about 10 feet into NC and that state is complete! Seems like we¢ve been walking with one foot in NC and the other in TN for a long, long time. That will be 4 states complete, 10 to go!It¢s a nice afternoon, there is a plastic lawn chair here at the shelter, so I feel like writing. People may wonder how I feel out here, so here is a cut at that. At this moment, I¢m very relaxed. I¢m sitting in front of the shelter, in the sun, in a green plastic lawn chair, alone with my thoughts. I¢m relaxed, without stress. I do find stress raises as I approach a re-supply point, mostly because I don¢t have a wide selection of food. I really should experiment with other foods, like I have with dried potatoes substituted for Mac & Cheese. It¢s good to have friends out here, and friends are easily made, as the cause is common. Maui Bob has probably gone ahead. Lucky is in Elk Park or Roan for the night, and the kids have gone on. I expect Shelby Bob to be here later, so that will be good. I¢m sure there will be unknown, new hikers arriving, and that¢s not as good ¢ you have to repeat the same ¢intro¢ stories over and over. Foe instance, at Greesy Creek Friendly a woman asked how Rob was handling his tours in Iraq. After a long thoughtful pause I repeted the ¢Megan story¢. My red Marine T-shirt is always a good conversation starter. Remembering names is also an issue. As one hiker explained it, if you think you are not going to see that person again, you simple discard their name. Rainy days are not nice. Everything gets at least damp, even inside the waterproof food bags when hung out for the night. Then the rain stops and we try to dry everything again.Free time is often spent planning. Without careful planning, your going to carry too much stuff (i.e. food) or run out, or not make it to that shelter for the night (why most carry a tent). For instance, the plan for tomorrow: I could do 18 miles of easy hiking followed by 6 miles of mostly downhill into the next re-supply. Or, I could do 9 miles tomorrow followed by 15 to the re-supply. My usual plan is to start tomorrow like I was doing the longer 18-mile hike then evaluate going on when I reach the shelter at 9 miles. Then I have to figure how much food I will need for the following section. It looks like Damascus is 5 days from Dennis Cove so I will bring 6 days worth of food. I always have one extra days food, but at about 2 pounds per day you have to be careful. In this case, the extra will allow for one of the 15-mile days to be shortened. Well, the great alone stay is over as Eats-a-Lot, S¢n¢P, and ??? and Pilgrim are here. Pilgrim will go on, and I will turn in early to get a good start tomorrow.