Date: 2016-08-29
From: Double Springs Shelter

To: Vandeventer Shelter
Miles today: 14.4
Weather: clear sky

I was really anxious to leave the shelter in the morning. All the trash and flies made me very nervous. My plan was to try to make it to Iron Mountain Shelter early in the day. If I was feeling OK and doing well, I hoped to go on to Vandeventer. I saw in the shelter journal that there were trees down before Vandeventer. I had no idea what was waiting for me!.It was a very easy hike out of the Double Springs Shelter. As before, my right knee felt much better and worked much better about 1-2 hours on the trail. I hope the trend continues. Even the pack felt good.I was very curious about the reference to a "handicap-accessible trail" in the AWOL guide. Polar Bear had mentioned a cow pasture with beautiful views of the mountains and a bench. So I had a lot to look forward to today.During the course of the morning I managed to flush out 2 grouse which were hiding right next to the trail. I also saw several small brown toads along the trail. Otherwise I saw no other wildlife, or even signs (like scat) of other wildlife.The AT came up on a stile at the edge of a high pasture. There, under the trees, were adorable little cows - several different colors, all clustered under the overhanging trees to take advantage of the cool shade. Their poor little faces were covered in flies. I climbed over the stile and stopped to take a few pictures. They were very shy little cows and apparently did not like to have their pictures taken.There were blazed stakes running through the middle of the pasture, and then I saw the bench. A big heavy wooden bench out in the middle of the pasture. I stopped briefly to enjoy the view, then moved on. From this point, I was not sure where to find the next white blaze. Having been burned before by following tractor tracks and hunting for blazes in pastures, I was very cautious. Guthook kept me on the trail, which this time WAS the tractor track!! To my amazement, the tractor track through the pasture WAS the "handicap-accessible trail." At the corner of the pasture, at the stile, was a sign about handicapped accessibility. I did not fully understand how it really worked, but I was very glad that opportunities were offered for everyone to experience, at least a little part, of the AT.The AT crossed TN 91 and then immediately ducked back into the woods. The area was damp and in several places there were bog boards. I stopped at the stream, which actually had water, and loaded up. I did not really need water, but I did not want to take any chances with upcoming water sources.As recommended by Polar Bear, I stopped at the Nick Grindstaff Monument to check it out. It was not what I expected. I expected a plaque attached to some remnant of his old homestead. Instead it looked like a place where he may actually have been buried. There was a stone structure with a headstone somewhat attached. The headstone was difficult to read in some places, but appeared to say in memory of Uncle Nick Grindstaff, then listed his date of birth (1850's) and date of death (1920'), and then faintly said (I think) lived alone, settled alone, died alone. Behind the stone structure appeared to be where he was buried, which was cemented over. The whole situation was very sad and the memorial took a great deal of work.I reached Iron Mountain Shelter still feeling good, with lots of energy and good weather. The shelter had graffiti, but was not trashed like the last shelter. I was tempted to stay, but it was too early in the day and I really wanted to make miles. I took a brief break and moved on. Again, the shelter journal mentioned downed trees, but did not fully explain the situation.Just past the shelter I stopped at a nice spring to collect water. Per the AWOL guide (and shelter journals), the water source at Vandeventer Shelter was WAY down a steep slope. I did not want to climb all the way down and find no water. I also did not want to haul heavy water up a steep slope after hiking all day. So I really loaded up on water. I drank a bottle or two, filled all my water bottles, and partially filled both of my raw water bladders. I moved my tent to the inside of my pack, and put the bladders in the big outside mesh pocket in case one or both leaked.The pack was extremely heavy with all the extra water. The Z-packs are not designed for really heavy loads, and it was not at all comfortable with the extra weight. I REALLY felt like a pack mule now.The trail also felt like it was all up hill. Then the real "fun" began - the huge downed trees. In most places, the trail was either on a ridge or carved into the side of the mountain, with drop offs at the edge of the trail. So there was very little room to safely get around anything in the middle of the trail.The first few downed trees were not too bad. I could climb over or around. But then there were more and more downed trees, and it was increasingly more difficult to get around, over, under, or through the trees. Sometimes I had to crawl on my hands and knees - which of course aggravated my right knee. Of course, the heavy chafing pack on my back was no help. What should have been a very easy but uphill hike was exhausting.I finally reached Vandeventer shelter at about 6:30. I was soaking wet from sweat, sore from head to toe from the heavy uncomfortable pack, exhausted, and starving. I found a tree for my bear bag, hung my tent in the shelter, and made dinner. I was so tired, I could not eat the entire meal. I was extremely glad I carried the extra water. The trail down to the water source looked extremely steep and dangerous. And I was extremely grateful for the view behind the shelter, which was of Watauga Lake, and was spectacular. I took some pictures and texted them to my husband. I also called him since I had very good cell coverage way up there on the mountain top.Then I went to bed. In the past I have always changed out of my hiking clothes and into my dry "sleeping" clothes. But so far there did not seem to be much point. At the end of the day I am soaking wet from sweat, and it is so hot and humid that changing clothes would just make another set of clothes sweaty. In addition, the slight evaporation cooled me off just a little, and by morning my clothes were dry. So I slept in my hiking clothes, using my sleeping bag liner to keep my sleeping bag from getting wet and stinky.Once again I had trouble getting and staying asleep. I may have to start using the ear plugs to keep from hearing the bugs and other noises at night. In addition to the buzzing of the bugs, at one point it appeared that something flew into the shelter and flapped around before exiting - possibly a bat. Large acorns kept dropping on the metal roof, and something (likely one of my squirrel buddies) occasionally scurried across the roof. The AT is calling. I hope the rest of the trail is not littered with fallen twisted trees.