Date: 2015-06-15
From: Brushy, Mt

To: Dismal Creek 
Miles today: 13.9
Weather: broken clouds

June 15thBrushy Mt. to Dismal Creek13.9 Miles I woke up late again, perhaps due to getting up late the previous day or due to spending half the night listening to mystery beast. I was on the trail @ 10am. I was trying to conserve my one liter of water because I had a feeling that the previous days trail magic of water indicated that more than a single water source was dry. That said I wasn't too concerned because I knew I was due to cross many streams, creeks, and even a river within a few miles. I soon arrived in Jenny Knob Shelter and sure enough - it's water was dry.   I know some of you are wondering - why doesn't he just load up on water? Water is super heavy and thus 'expensive' in energy for a hiker to take along. A single liter weights @ four pounds - more than any single other item I carry! I already struggle to make the miles I need to do if I want to complete this journey - every pound I add makes it harder and slower, thus decreasing my chances of finishing. Believe me - when you are out here you will quickly learn the power of a single pound.   This first section of trail was moderately more difficult than the previous day. I passed multiple water sources that had gone dry but was unconcerned. I finally found a creek that had slow flow. I normally would have skipped it but it was a hot day and I needed the water. Even after purification the water smelled fishy.   In the early afternoon I arrived at the river (listed as Kimberling Creek). There was an area that was large and deep enough for swimming. At this point I had been basting in my own sweat for a few hours so I was eager to take a dip. I was there for about a half hour before I reluctantly left. Right after the river was a road down which half a mile was a store with a grill. I headed down there... The store was a place that in my normal life I would never go to. Very limited selection of things unless you wanted bait, (illegal) traps, beer, or bizzarly a gun safe. I did order a pizza at the 'grill'.   Afterwards it was to be a death march of six miles to where I wanted to camp for the night - or so I thought. The miles were easy, and as I came up to the spur trail to Dismal Falls I encountered Big Sexy, who persuaded me to check out the falls.   Dismal Falls is awesome. There is a 12 foot natural rock wall that the water flows over with a pool below. As I came up on it I saw Theseus and the couple I had dinner with a couple days earlier. They invited me to camp with them but I still had miles to go for the day.    Theseus decided to jump from the rock wall into the pool, and I volunteered to go with.Me: "Are you sure that no one has died doing this?"Theseus: "I'm sure someone has but let's do it anyway."Uhhhhh.... very *not* comforting. I wasn't worried about the height - I was worried about the depth of the pool (around five feet). That seemed too shallow for the hight of the rock wall.   I was thinking that it was a stupid thing that only an 18 year old who thinks he is immortal would do as I jumped. No worries - although even bending at the knees I bumped the bottom. The water was cold but refreshing. I lazed around for half an hour or so enjoying the water. I roused myself and set off again. It was nearly four miles to where I had planned to camp but they went fast. I arrived shortly before dark. I was very pleased. I had a lot of fun that day yet still did all the miles I had set out to do. It was a magical day on the trail.