Date: 2014-05-01
From: Mt Collins Shelter

To: Tri-corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.1
Weather: clear sky

I was up at 6 and on the trail at 6:30, before anyone else was up. I descended into Newfound Gap, which is the only paved road crossing the park. It has tourist facilities including a large parking lot and flush toilets! I sat on a low wall to fix a brunch and talked with another thru hiker Poppy. She had been off trail for a week due to twisting her knee and had just been dropped off to resume her hike. When she mentioned putting on sun block, I reached for my bandana on my pack (I wear it on the back of my head under my cap to protect my ears and neck - hey this is no fashion event!). My bandana was gone! Poppy said she had two, and gave me one of hers. I keep meeting super nice people on the trail - thanks Poppy!The trail was more impressive in the northern part of the park. It would go along narrow ridges sometimes not much wider than its narrow path. The slope down the Tennessee side was sometimes vertical with the slope to the NC side 70 deg. Very cool! Initially the clouds were hanging around on the TN side with magnificent views on only the NC side, but soon both sides were clear. Had to watch that I didn't fall down a cliff while enjoying the views! :-) Another Magnificent View!Later on when I was filling up my water supply, Eric caught up with me. He had gone into Gatlinburg to pick up some new shoes. As he came up to me he pointed out a white tailed deer about 20 feet away in the woods. She didn't seem too concerned about us and didn't run off like I'm used to seeing deer do.I also passed over a couple of stiles like I'd never seen before. They were part of a fenced off area to protect the beech trees from hogs. See pictures in the photo section for details. Hog Stile Save the Beech!The shelter was full again with lots of folks camping nearby. I had fun chatting with Learnin' and his wife, whose name I forget. Learnin' is short for Learnin' a Lot. I told him about my old VA vanity license plate: LRN LOTS. We hit it off well! Also chatted with another young couple Phoenix and Johnny Appleseed. We were all lined up in our sleeping bags on the second level of the shelter. Eric had a spot beyond Johnny. I had seen a mouse scurry into the shelter earlier but didn't say anything. As it got dark and we were settling in, there was a "snap" in the back corner of our tier. Learnin' had set a mouse trap and caught one! He had found the trap earlier in the hike and kept it. He disposed of the dead mouse and reset the trap. Very soon "snap!" Learnin' disposed of that one, but the peanut butter was now gone and we had all already hung our food bags on the bear cables. Apparently mice follow the same routes, so Learnin' set the empty trap along the side wall near the entrance. "Snap!" Three dead mice. I commented he might have figured out what line of work to pursue after the trail. Turns out that's what he just quit to hike the trail. There may have been another snap in the night, but I had my earplugs in to block the racket the frogs were making.Today's tunes: Started with the original House of the Rising Sun tune and lyrics, but tried to erase it when I noticed it. Not a particularly good hiking tune! Later on I noticed I was doing "Hallelujah" from the Shrek soundtrack, including the verses even though I don't remember the words. Very appropriate, I thought! I've been taught the word is ancient Hebrew for Praise God (hallelu = praise, jah = short for Yahweh = God). Today was another good day to praise Him for the scenery around me and all the good people I met! :-)