Date: 2011-07-10
From: Day 122 George W Ourterbridge Shelter

To: Day 123 Smith Gap Road
Miles today: 13.3

It was great sleeping with the rain fly off while the moon spread a soft glow throughout our campsite, the night was nice and cool. We woke to the call of the whippoorwill, it is loud, and annoying, but it wakes you up. We were packed up and on the trail by 7:20, it was 62* and low humidity, perfect for hiking. Today our hike has a long 12+ mile stretch without any water sources, so we loaded up with 4 liters each. Our first hurdle of the day was to climb straight up out of Lehigh Gap. The climb is up 1000', over and around massive boulders. This is truly a very difficult and challenging ascent and with the weight of 4 liters of water very arduous as well, but we made it. Much of the morning after that, we were scrambling over fields of very large rocks. We were doing just great, then it happened, I tripped and fell head first into the rocks. I tried to block my fall but my leg was stuck, my hiking pole was stuck and with the added weight of my pack and the extra water, all I could do was to turn my head at the last second to avoid hitting the rock squarely in my face. Tramp was a little behind me so he saw me fall and hurried over to help. Somehow my gaiter, with my foot and leg still in it, had mysteriously gotten caught on a nearby tree as I was falling and now my leg was sticking straight up in the air, so I could not move. At that point I didn't know if anything was broken, but I sure did hurt. After freeing my leg I was elated to find no broken bones only a small cut on my head and several cuts on my arms and hands. The bandanna I was wearing around my head, to keep the sweat out of my eyes, had cushioned my fall, keeping me from a more serious injury as my head hit the rocks. See even though I am a very careful hiker, this is the first fall of my entire journey, stuff happens. Without removing my pack, Tramp helped me up. With nothing broken and just a small bump forming on my head I felt it was better to keep going and get to a more level and solid location, so on our way we went, albeit at a little slower pace.  When we stopped for lunch I took the time to do a full assessment of my injuries. No bones broken, check. Bleeding had stopped, check.  Bump on head, still there but not getting any larger. Scrapes, Bumps & Bruises, plenty. Hiking poles, one slightly bent, but still usable. All in all I was very lucky, my ride had been almost over. Since we were now going much slower than planned, and with the aches and pains intensifying, I decided to call Gerrie for help. I asked her to pick us up at Smith's Gap and take us home for the night. She agreed and by 7:30 we where on our way to Dingman's Ferry were we had a good dinner, showered and made plans to return to Smith's Gap in the morning. .........Today we are still on page 118 but the last entry on the page (Smith Gap Road) in the A. T. Guide by David Miller  (the green book)Temps, it's 72* outside my window right now (11:00) and I am licking my wounds hoping I feel up to hiking tomorrow.Tonight, I ache all over but happy I am not more seriously injured and want to return to the trail tomorrow morning.  Just being back on the trail is good enough for me and I really don't care how hot it is or how sore and tired I am, I hope I still feel that way in the morning. ........Total AT miles hiked today 13.3. .....Nite all