Date: 2010-05-02
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN / Iron Mountain Gap
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: few clouds

OK, had a revelation this morning. I was so dreading spending another day in Erwin, the wheels must have been spinning all night...ok, wheel...but, still, I came up with a plan. I could slackpack today and try to get in 20 or so miles or basically a day and a half of regular hiking...that would take care of Sunday and half of Monday for me to visit the dentist. Anyway, talked to the owner and he said he would come and pick my up at Iron Mountain Gap (road goes right by it)...for $25. A bit steep as it is only 15 miles away, but I don't care...I can get out of this town for the day anyway! The owner dropped me off on the other side of town where I stopped coming into Erwin and I started my hike. Weather report now said it probably wouldn't rain until the evening...hopefully enough time for me to get my 20 miles in. And, if not, I still had a dry place to come back to and take a shower...it was all coming together. Pretty warm day...low 80s with partly sunny skies. After looking at the profile of my walk today, I was glad to be slackpacking...lots of climbing today. The first big climb was up to a place called Beauty Spot about 10 miles into the walk. The elevation gain to that point was about 2,700 ft broken up into two equal parts of 2-3 miles each...the rest was basically flat or small up/downs. Beauty Spot itself is a nice grassy bald with some great 360 degree views, but the mountain sides surrounding it are a lot of dead and burned trees...evidently the beetles and some other disease had killed all the trees and there was a small fire a few years ago. Also a very windy place...maybe more so due to the approaching storms. As you approached the ridge, it sounded like a jet engine. You could see the trees swaying and once you came over the ridge, you had to brace yourself. Actually pushed me off the trail a couple of times as it was hard to tell when to lean into the wind and when not to as it was swirling. I also didn't have the extra 35 lbs on my back, so it was throwing my emaciated POW-like frame around quite a bit (ok, I haven't lost that much weight yet, but it sure feels like it). There was also some trail magic on top of Beauty Spot...a couple of past thru hikers left a couple of coolers with beer/pudding/energy drinks/strawberry shortcake so we could/would stop and enjoy the view. I had a beer (Keystone Light...bitter beer face) and a pudding...good combo! Next stop was Unaka (Cherokee word for white) Mountain. Went down Beauty Spot and then started the 1,100 ft climb up Unaka over the next 1.5 miles. Unaka Mountain is basically a great evergreen forest...lots of shade and what seemed like a nice, cushiony carpet of about a foot of pine needles...great smell as well. Very cool hike...you couldn't really follow the trail by looking at the ground because the trail impression was quickly covered up by more pine needles. You basically had to find a white blaze on a tree and walk toward it, then look around until you found the next white blaze...kind of fun. With so many trees though, you would sometimes have to move around a little bit to get the right line-of-site to the next white blaze. Anything a little bit different is always kind of fun on the trail. Unaka really didn't have any views due to the forest, but it didn't matter...fun hike through it. After Unaka, I stopped by a shelter to get some more water and rest a few minutes. Red Stick was there and jumped at the chance to get back to Erwin once he heard I had a ride back into town in about 3 miles. His tent had been leaking and the company was sending him a new one. It was supposed to arrive in Erwin on Friday, but it didn't and he didn't want to wait around for it. But, now, he could go back in to town and pick it up on Monday...and avoid all the rain that was supposed to come tonight and Monday morning. So, we hiked out and the owner from the Super 8 came and picked us up...all before the rain started. Great timing! Also, saw my first snake on the trail with Red Stick...a huge black snake! Red Stick said 5 feet long...I think only 4 feet...still a huge snake! It was laying across the trail when I came around a tree...first thought it was another root, then scared the bejeezus out of me. Got back to the hotel, showered, and went to the Huddle House for dinner...well, I had breakfast, but it was good. Feel good I got my hiking in today and hopefully things will go smoothly with the dentist tomorrow. And the weather is cooperating with me...rain started after my hike and is supposed to be done around lunchtime tomorrow...hope that holds up. Cheers.