Date: 2004-05-04
From: Mollies Ridge Shelter

To: Idyllic Day
Miles today: 11.7

After enduring a cold and uncomfortable sleep, I crawled out of my sleeping bag during the mid morning, much later than usual. Most of the other campers were up and about.While getting my equipment in order, I noticed someone's thick sleeping pad on the upper tier of the shelter. On top of it was a sleeping bag. I was curious to feel the luxurious thickness of the pad, so I reached up and began pressing my fingers against it. Oops! A man was still sleeping in the bag and my prodding fingers were almost touching his face. He woke up and gave me a bemused look. I was embarrassed and apologized. He mumbled something and closed his eyes.Two deer appeared on the periphery of the shelter area. They were licking the ground. A man told me the deer were licking the spots where people had taken their leaks. The deer crave the salt from urine.Someone told me about a story about a woman whose bare foot was sticking out of her tent. She felt something touching it, looked at the foot, and realized that a deer was licking it. Today was a great hiking day, albeit a physically demanding one. The weather was cooperative and the landscape offered up some nice scenery.During the morning, my mind was occupied with composing the words to the prayer I intend to recite on Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. That Reverend and his daughter back at the Fontana Community Church had been extra nice by offering a special prayer for the cure of my blister. I intend to follow through on my promise to offer a prayer on behalf of the Reverend's cancer stricken wife. I wondered if I should pray for a cure of her cancer, or pray for the eventual repose of her soul. I decided to include both requests in the prayer. But I could not decide the actual words. There is still time to choose the words because Clingman's Dome is two days away.I ate lunch on a small bald with Woe and Moxie, and a hiker whose trail name is Samurai. The spot was beautiful, with nearby trees¢dogwoods?¢in bloom.Shortly thereafter, Woe, Moxie and I ascended to an overlook called Rocky Top, where we enjoyed a rare 360 degree view at over 5,000 feet.Anther hiker, a local man, showed up. He was bare chested and wore a straw cowboy hat. We chatted with him and then he moved on to another viewpoint. When we next ran into him, he was coming down the slope. As we passed by each other, he gave us each a good natured slap on our shoulders and a heartfelt goodbye. The good vibes remained but the last few miles were hard, with one uphill after another.When we reached the Derrick Knob shelter, I noticed a chain link fence and entrance stretching across the open face of the structure. The fence is there to deny access to bears.A older hiker whose trail name is Greybeard is sharing the shelter. I had briefly met him back at the hostel at Fontana Village. He is thru hiking. Other thru hikers spending the night here are Woe and Moxie, Samurai, Knuckles (a woman) and some local hikers. A woman named Inchworm is here. She is hiking for 100 days. Tomorrow, I will hike a shorter distance than usual in order to better enjoy these mountains.