Date: 2007-06-30
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: scattered clouds

June 30th, 2007: AT miles hiked 13.1 Up early but not as early as Chuck and J.T. were. They were out of the shelter before 7:00am. We made it out a little past 7:00. Today¢s highlight is Max Patch Bald. Picture if you will Julie Andrews spinning on a mountain top meadow in the Sound of Music and you have Max Patch. The climb up to the meadow was long but not as steep as yesterday¢s climb. Right before the last climb to the top we ran into Chuck and J.T coming towards us. I asked if something was wrong and Chuck said "Were stopping for water". We made it onto the open bald and the weather was perfect. The skies clear and the grasses were dancing in the gentle wind. No picture taken today will match the images we¢ll have in our memories. We make it to the summit and crash land on the trail. I laid out my Tyvek sheet and lay on the ground. I had noticed a parking lot another 1/8th mile away and people were parking there to visit the bald. I heard some of those people coming up the trail and Lo and behold they were wearing University of Kentucky shirts. My people! One of the guys was toting a canvas cooler and I joked "If those are cokes you are my new best friend". He smiled and said "No, we have fried chicken in here". I said "Then you are really my new best friend". In the same group were Buster and Bluebird. I had read their SOBO journal last year on trailjournals.com. They had to abandon their hike due to an injury and had picked it back up. This was her family meeting her on the trail for a picnic. I told the guys to hold off eating because they were going to bring us some food. Scott and Travis were already chowing down. Besides this is only their 4th day on the trail and their appetites are still pretty suppressed from the exhertion. Bluebird brought us 3 Chicken breasts and biscuits and potato salad were offered as well. I had to eat all three. I felt like a glutton...a very full glutton indeed. I tried to return the favor by taking a group photo of them. They were a very close family and I felt richer for having met them. OK this could be called a YOGI moment but it felt more like trail magic. After all I did not have to ask yet it was offered. My best wishes go out to Buster and Bluebird not only on the impending completion of their trip but also their upcoming wedding later this year. Down from the mountain we stop for water at Roaring fork for we have heard that the water source at Walnut Mtn. is unreliable. We then rolled into the Hell hole known as Walnut Mountain Shelter. We find a group of hikers there as well as a note from Chuck and J.T. ?!? It read "David, Scott & Travis, we decided to push on to Hot Springs because there are just too many mice here." What the? How did these guys walk OVER us as we lay on the trail and pass us? I laughed and hollered out "Yellow Blazers!" That is the term for those who hitch hike the AT and claim they hiked it. It was either that or they took a Blue Blaze bypass trail of the bald and it that is true they are truly the loser here. The bald was the best of all the Southern AT. Back to the shelter. It is old. it is so old that Earl Schaeffer, The first to walk the entire AT, stayed here. The sleep platform did not have one single flat place on it. It was also built for short people like me. Scott and Travis both around 6 ft tall opted to tent it. A wise move on their part. Scott and I were able to have a good talk before bed. I was really glad to share some of this trip with family. The water was there¢¦it just wasn¢t that good.