Date: 2007-04-07
From: Flint Mountain Shelter

To: Bald Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 18.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, well, guess who turned up at the shelter around 9:30 last night? That's right - the Owl, and some guy named Dan. They were heading south - Owl took 2 zero days in Hot Springs, so he's just taken it easy for a while I figure. Maybe he'll catch up - maybe he won't. Plenty of time.I knew I had to wake up early to-day in order to make it to Big Bald Shelter, so I braved the freezing cold and snow and got all my crap packed up and ate breakfast by about 8:30. Dad still hadn't stirred from his tent so I shook it a little and he asked me to duct tape the vents to his shoes for him. He didn't have boots - just running shoes, and there was 3-4 inches of snow on the ground. So I duct tape his shoes, give him my gaitors, and we're off a little past 9:00. Smiley was just about to leave as I was, and he said he'd meet me at Big Bald Shelter, because he wanted to get to Miss Janet's House in Erwin as soon as possible as well.I led the way as we hiked, kicking back snow drifts for Dad to the best of my ability, while maintaining a steady pace. It wasn't so bad. Actually, I found it quite pleasant, and by the time I was warmed up from hiking, it was turning out to be a great day.Dad, on the other hand, was struggling. He really needed boots as the duct tape was beginning to soak off, and he just doesn't like uphills. I hardly notice them nowadays.We reached Hogback Ridge Shelter in 4 hours - not bad for a 9.5 mile hike in the snow. "Weird Beard" was there with food and a fire and Dad was so happy that he hugged him. Footpump, who had passed us earlier that day, was there too, and he was planning on staying the night because his parents were going to be hiking in soon to meet him for to-day and to-morrow.Eventually Matt, my dad, and myself left the shelter and hiked the 2.5 miles to Sams Gap. Cake. Along the way I met Footpump's parents hiking in with backpacks, ready to brave the 15 degree cold to-night.Oh, I forgot to mention that while I was perusing the registry at Hogback, someone had written a note saying Miss Janet was holding a huge Easter dinner to-morrow. It included her number in the note, so I took it down and when we got to Sams Gaps where Matt had parked the car, I gave her a call. We arranged to meet at Spivey Gap, 5 miles past Big Bald Shelter, at about 10-10:30, to-morrow. A shuttle will pick me up.So now I had to get to Big Bald as soon as I could as it was already past 4:00 and the sun sets fast in the mountains. It was 7.6 miles from Sams to Big Bald. I said faretheewell to Matt and Dad and went on my way.The first mile and a half was easy, and I made good time. At about 1.5 miles in I met 2 men with a collie who told me there was trail magic a mile away. I hurried over and I met Redneck and Lunchbox in a large orange tent and they served me coffee.The coffee was just what I needed, and I was off again after just 15 minutes. Now the trail began a gentle, but continuous climb uphill. Big bald is at 5516', so it was going to be over a 1700' climb from Sams Gap.The trail became more hazardous, and as the sun set, it became colder and windier. But I continued. It was so pretty, I must say. Hiking alone up to a beast of a bald in the snow. It was really something special.Big bald is just what its name implied, a big field on top of a mountain. It had incredible vistas, and it was bitterly, bitterly cold and windy. The wind was blowing me all over the place as I struggled to follow the blazed off the bald and into the valley.Well, guess what? The AT climbs another massive bald immediately after - I must have overlooked it on the guidebook because it took me completely by surprise. Turns out it's called Big Stamp. I struggled through that one and finally, after about a half a mile of hiking through protected, I arrived at Bald Mountain Shelter.No one is here.I am alone at the shelter.I was so cold all I could do was sit down for a few minutes and shiver. Eventually I climbed onto the top bunker here and layered up and crawled into my sleeping bag. I'm going to have to get up pretty early in order to reach Miss Janet by 10:30 to-morrow - it's a 5.5 mile hike from here... Did I mention that already? I forget, I'm exhausted. I think to-day was perhaps my roughest day, even worse than the first 20-miler through the Smokies. At least people were at the shelter at that one.Oh! and it turns out Caveman is still on the trail, he's just changed his name to Ice Man. Matt met him at Hogback a few days back and "Ice Man" was telling him how I got my trail name. He's about 2 days ahead of me, judging by his shelter registries. Maybe I'll catch up to him at Miss Janet's to-morrow.