Date: 2014-04-20
From: Rock Gap

To: Wayah Gap
Miles today: 0.0

When I started I thought poison snakes would be an interesting twist. Have yet to see one (although sources tell me now that it is warming up, the rattle snakes will begin to converge on the shelters due to mouse densities found near shelters). Instead, an old nemesis poison ivy or something similar has been lying in wait and struck. I'm now dodging anything with a root until I identify the suspect. It's tough because it's not leafed out enough to ID it. Every plant is a suspect for now.Goes to show it's not always the new and unfamiliar that can present challenges out here; letting your guard down on familiar pestilence or where you place your foot on slippery root late in the day when tired can spawn its own set of new challenges for you to adapt to and deal with.Got a couple softball size rashes, one on right leg and the other on hip. Couple satellite spots on waist. Tecnu kills the itch. To the weeping stage now, about three more days and it will dry up.On the trail I kept hearing about a guy named Ron Haven in the Franklin area. People described Ron as a neat guy.I met Ron this morning as he deftly drove a 20 person shuttle bus through the mountain switchbacks to Rock Gap, our drop off point. I thought I'd sit back and watch this guy I heard so much about. Ron Haven knows people, and knows hikers even better. He exercised some interesting adaptive leadership while on the bus.Some background....Heifitz and Linsky's adaptive leadership model requires developing skills in three areas: observation (what's going on in the social system), interpretation (why is it happening), and intervention (intervening in the system in a way that draws attention to the issue, so the people with the problem can see the issue begin to take steps to solve it themselves).There are no authority figures on the trail. No collar brass, no one in charge. While there is a certain interdependency on the trail, AT hikers are by nature an independent lot. There has been a few folks try to "take charge" in the system, but the system killed them off pretty quick, marginalizing them and leaving them in charge of themselves. Ron clearly knew this and masterfully demonstrated adaptive leadership in action in the social system on the bus. First, he made people feel welcome and then just listened to people talk on the bus for about 10 minutes (observation). He was unassumingly taking it all in and evaluating it against his experience and the future new realities these hikers would be facing as they got into the Smokey Mountains (there is no reapply in the Smokeys, so one has to obtain and pack 6-7 of food prior to entering). He was in interpretation mode, identifying potential issues. Then he framed up a masterful intervention. As is often the case, a simple question can be a powerful intervention into a system. He simply asked "How many of you are planning to resupply for a week or better at Fontana Dam for the Smokeys?" I scanned and most all the hands went up. Ron then told them that if they intended to resupply at a grocery store that there was not a grocery store there. Could have heard a pin drop on the bus. EF Hutton had spoke and had everyone's undivided attention with 19 words. Then he gave the people with the problem to capacity to begin to solve their own problem. He launched into a monologue of names and numbers... provided the number for the Robbensville Chamber of Commerce who provides free shuttles to the grocery store there. Lots of info being captured on cell phones, people starting to solve the problem they did not know they had until Ron lead them to it and gave them the means to solve it themselves in their own way. Ron's story is the American story. Ron grew up poor. Grew up he did too....so much so professional wrestling talent scouts saw a pro wrestler in him. So he packed his bags and was on the pro wrestling circuit in arenas around the country for 7 years.After wrestling, Ron got into the hiker hostel business, he owns one in Hiawasee and Franklin North Carolina. He works hard and seems to enjoy it and comes off as sincerely wanting to help people be successful on the trail. People were right, he's an interesting fellow. See video and picture.Once I got back on the trail, I found a bright green lighter on the trail. I thought about how cold it was and decided to leave it there in case someone needed a lighter. Trail magic seems to work that way. Was not long and a young woman was hiking southbound that I saw going north earlier. Turns out she dropped her bright green lighter and asked if I'd seen it. I said yes, 100 yards back. Relieved, she said she'd carried it over 100 miles now and did not want to loose it.While climbing to Siler Bald in encountered a man in kilt going south again. I had seen him about a week ago. He is actually from Wisconsin, trail name Rocky the Flying Squirrel. See video.On the other side of Siler Bald I came across a guy looking like he was going to get down on all fours and drink from the stream. Curious, I asked things where going. He said he lost his water bottle. I carry two, so I gave him one of mine. I inquired of his trail name...Robert and Wrasse you'll like this - his name was "Ketchup". Despite challenges, he's out here. See video.Got to the Aquone Hostel. Great place. Owner x-British special forces who hiked trail in 2010. Great food. A coke never tasted so good.This is where I pull off the trail for a few weeks to coordinate the leadership academy in West Virginia at the National Conservation Training Center. There is a 41 mile section of the trail that run from Harpers Ferry thru Maryland to PA border. I may knock that section out May 17-19 as long as I'll be there.So, all for now. It's been a blast. I'll advise when I get back on the trail, likely in June. Will go from current location (Wayah Gap) through the Smokies to see one of the worlds largest concentration of synchronized fireflies. Some folks have expressed interest in joining me, will advise if someone decides to come along. Special thanks to Tom and Joella Wrasse for the pick up.