Date: 2013-04-30
From: Licklog Gap

To: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: broken clouds

Day 2: Licklog Gap to A. Rufus Morgan Shelter Bearbag Hanging, newly proposed Olympic Demonstration Sport for 2016It was a chilly night for sleeping, thankfully I was wearing my new Mont Bell jacket and it helped keep me warm. While the night started quietly enough, I was serenaded by at least a pair of owls that called back and forth, it was quite the conversation and to top that, it seems I was in a flight path for late night plane routes. I awoke and slowly broke camp, had breakfast and watched as most everyone that stayed south of me last night walked through my campsite. I wished them all a good morning and figured I might see a few of them again during the day. I had 3.5 miles to make up given my stopping short yesterday. While not critical, the reason for a ¢schedule¢ of sorts is because I only carry the food needed to get me to the next mail drop. This leg of my trip was supposed to be about 3.5 days and I intended to pick-up my next drop at Fontana Dam Village and then pick up my second drop 3 days later in Gatlinburg. So today would be a longish day and I spent the morning making up for yesterday and the afternoon and evening walking my 2nd day planned miles. Happily, I caught up with FL Paul and we spent enough time walking together for me to find out a little bit about him, such as where he grew up, where he lived now, that he was a Navy retiree (Go Army, Beat Navy!) and that he was supposed to leave the trail in about 2 weeks for a family commitment and then return hopefully within a few weeks to continue on through Great Smokey Mountain National Park. I really enjoy good conversations, it passes the time nicely when you hit tough terrain and here on the trail you meet people from all walks of life. I¢ve never come away from a conversation of more than 10 minutes without learning something and that¢s a great gift. The trail was beautiful today; there were a number of flowers starting to bloom, lots of white and white & pink Trillium, what looked to be purple pansies and a plethora of yellow daisy looking flowers. The scent was almost overpowering along some sections of the trail. Stopped around Tellico Gap to grab a bite for lunch and enjoyed a little break there with Paul before starting what would be an 800¢ ascent to Wesser Bald and then a rollercoaster of rocky sections which seriously pounded my knees. Wesser had a tower quite unlike the one at Wayah; this was a set of questionably solid stairs leading up to a large wooden platform with a railing that was perhaps a little taller than waist-high. It was hot and there were tons of bugs around but I decided to go up for the view all the same. By this point I had lost Paul again, but ran into other hikers, a group of whom were spread out underneath the tower just lounging around. Day 2- Views from Wesser Bald & Jumpup Lookoutfont>After about 30 minutes at the top getting pestered by the gnats and flies and bees, I descended the tower with considerable caution and through the pack on for what I hoped would be a gentler 5 mile cruise into Rufus Morgan Shelter. It was not to be however, and several areas as I earlier noted just punished my knees. Of note was a beautiful yet dangerously steep and rocky spot known as ¢Jumpup Lookout¢ which had some stellar, albeit limited views. The final mile or so to the shelter was a descent that set us up for another mile elevation drop tomorrow morning headed to the Nantahala River. I arrived after roughly 9 hours of hiking and found the only remaining level spot for my tent was about 50 yds downwind of the privy. I reasoned that prevailing winds would not blow that smell my way and if they did, it would mask any food odor that might attract a bear . That in mind, I was considering not hanging a bearbag this evening¢¦ until I met the boys from Louisiana- brothers Darrin and Brad with their friend Kevin. After a hearty meal of Barley, beef and veggies (all home-dehydrated of course), I was to witness what I believe should qualify as at least a Demonstration/Exhibition Sport for the next summer Olympics. These gentlemen launched a bearbag rope that had to have been a good 25-30 feet high. I was duly amazed and impressed- and got their photos to commemorate the stellar achievement. That settled it; my bag was hanging with theirs where no bear would get it. Goodnight 136.3 miles from Springer Mountain and in a fairly smelly location-at Rufus Morgan¢¦P.U.!More photos for the trip can be seen at: 2000Miler