Date: 2016-10-10
From: Betty Creek Gap Campsites

To: Rock Gap Parking Lot - Standing Indian Camp
Miles today: 8.5
Weather: scattered clouds

Mile 97.6 to 106.1Very cold last nite -- as cold as the nite before even without the wind. Slept w/ 2 layers and emergency blanket. Heard an animal around midnight. I had hung a bear bag which I don't usually do so I didn't think it was after my food. Its step was light so figured it wasn't a bear and it didn't skitter like a mouse -- maybe a deer?? Went out to investigate but didn't see anything. This morning heard a wild turkey, so I bet that's what it was. Still slow getting ready in the morning so left around 9:45.Hiked up Mt. Albert first thing. Very steep climb for NOBO's. At one point I was stuck and couldn't figure out how to get up to the next rock -- couldn't go back down because if I moved my feet backwards my pack would definitely pull me backwards and I'd crash down the rocks. Finally I threw my poles up onto the ledge and pushed very hard with my arms until I could pull myself up and get my knees on the next rock. I'd compare climbing up Mt. Albert with climbing to the summit of Killington peak in VT. Hiking down Mt. Albert was a cinch . . . just a moderate downhill trail. So if you want the easier route, go SOBO over Mt. Albert. The descent probably won't be easy, but it beats ascending from the south. Went up in the fire tower and the view was wonderful -- mountains in 360 degrees.Ate lunch at Long Branch Shelter and the creek had a pipe so getting water was easy. Filled up with enough for the rest of the day, tonite and tomorrow morning. Never know when you'll find water these days. It was only 2:45 so moved on even though this was a new, very nice shelter. Planned to spend the nite at Rock Gap Shelter, but it gave me the creeps when I arrived and no one else was there. It had plenty of bugs and was an old, old shelter. I was tired and it would get dark in a couple of hours, what should I do? I remembered to follow my gut and not stay there, so at 4:45 I started out for Winding Stair Gap where the car was parked. Had a good sized uphill to do and was worried about doing the miles (3.8) before dark when I was already very tired. Went .1 mile to Rock Gap parking lot and decided to spend the nite at Standing Indian Campground which was an almost 2.0 mile roadwalk. I called the manager and she was very nice and told me to come on down (the roadwalk was all downhill). I had gone almost 1.5 miles when another hiker stopped his truck and picked me up and took me the rest of the way. He was going further up the road to another parking lot. Trail magic again! As I walked toward the campsites another hiker (Lone Ranger) asked how long it had been since I'd had a hot meal. I explained that I'd only been out for 3 days and thanked him but I needed to get set up because it was going to get dark soon. As I was setting up he brought me a bundle of wood and started a good fire for me, then brought me 1/2 of a baked potato. How thoughtful!!! Seems he's stuck here until his dropbox and new bank card arrives, so I gave him most of my hiking food since I was finishing this part of my hike tomorrow.Very tired today (I think I said that previously) since I'd hiked over 10 miles total. Weird being in a regular campground, having running water and flush toilets. Don't have some of the things you need when you're car camping . . . lawn chairs, towels, etc., luxuries we can't carry on the trail. Met several very nice people -- everyone was friendly and offered any help they could give.