Date: 2015-04-24
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: Uncle Johnny's Nolichucky Hostel
Miles today: 16.8

This morning was so cold, I hiked my first hour wearing two pairs of socks, gloves, my last pair of socks on my hands over my gloves, and all of my clothes, including my rain pants and rain coat. I took all the extra layers off after an hour or so once the sun warmed up the trail and my body warmed up from hiking, but it was SO COLD. I put my tent footprint aside to dry while I packed up the rest of my stuff and it had all turned to frost within minutes.Today was a good hike. Less wind, but sunny and warm. Very enjoyable!! The trail is beautiful as always - I saw a lot of violets today, too.I stopped for lunch (cream of wheat) at No Business Knob Shelter. A hiker, who had breezed by me early in the morning, was there eating his ramen lunch. I talked to him as I cooked and ate. He started in Florida, has already hiked 2000 miles, and plans to go all the way to Newfoundland. Crazy. He's doing 30-mile days and 200-mile weeks.As I was cleaning out my cooking pot, scrubbing it with my sponge, he eyed my trial-size bottle of camp soap. "You don't need that." he said. "Pack weight, pack weight!" He then proceeded to pick up and weigh my cook set. "This is too heavy, too.""It's fine." I answered, already annoyed. I like my little alcohol stove. Most people on the trail have fancier setups but mine works well for me. "You can get one of these." he said, indicating his Pocket Rocket. "Forty bucks.""I already have a stove." I replied. "I bet you have all kinds of stuff you don't need." he said, and cried, "Shakedown! Shakedown!" A shakedown is where you go through your pack and eliminate every unnecessary item. I participated in one of these at Mountain Crossings Outfitters at Neel's Gap, on one of my first days on the trail. The girl told me to get rid of the soap. I kept it. She told me to get rid of my loofah. I sent it home then made mom send it back immediately, and we were happily reunited in Hot Springs (I love that scrubbing power). She told me to get rid of my deodorant. Mom is sending me more in my next mail drop. There are some things that I just WANT TO HAVE. AND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEM.I did not want another shakedown, and he was making me actually ANGRY. Hikers get so obsessed with pack weight that it's ridiculous. I figure, if I want to carry it, and I CAN carry it, without breaking my back or compromising the structural integrity of my pack (I don't want to break the thing), I will carry it. At this point, it's more annoying if someone asks me how much my pack weighs than if they ask me how much my own body weighs. I am not that obsessed.Anyway, this cramped my style for the next few miles, as I escaped, saying "I need to get to Erwin to get my mail drop. I'm sure you'll catch up! See you later."And now I am at Uncle Johnny's, using a REAL COMPUTER and REAL KEYBOARD to type, which makes things like 9000 times more convenient. Typing on my tablet and phone touchscreens is so slow... using a real computer is like a miracle.There is a hiker bash here tonight - free dinner (shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage and potatoes), there will be a free pancake breakfast tomorrow, and I believe a lunch at noon across the street, and chili for dinner. People are amazing. I feel very lucky that I made it here just in time for the festivities. Columbo is supposed to arrive tonight, too, as he lives nearby. It will be fantastic to have a friendly face to talk to... I don't think I know anyone else that I have seen here so far tonight (though most people left at 5, taking the shuttle to Wal-Mart and the liquor store. Seriously, those are the two stops).I picked up my mail drop here, sorted through too much food (as usual), and found ANOTHER AMAZING GIFT FROM THE PIZZA FAIRY (aka Dan).Here is a short note to the pizza fairy:Dear Pizza Fairy,Filling my tummy with sauce and cheese,pepperoni and vegetables,one more slice, please!You make my wildest pizza dreams come true.Thank you SO MUCH, I miss and love you!<3 DanielleI think the trail might be making me a little bit crazy. I am looking forward to dinner and relaxation.I am SO THANKFUL AGAIN for my jacket and sleeping bag, and tent, for keeping me from freezing to death last night. I am thankful that my feet haven't given up yet (though I do have a nice new huge blister welt). I am thankful I made it to Erwin in time for this Hiker Bash. I am grateful for PIZZA, for loving family and friends, old and new!