Date: 2015-04-14
From: Jerry Cabin Shelter

To: Hog back Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 15.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Even with ear plugs in last night all I could hear was the crazy wind. And the stupid bear cables creaking. It was so bloody annoying. Still raining when I woke up, I waited for a bit but it wasn't letting up. So I packed up my tent in the rain. I wanted to get a move on because I had 15 miles to go again. The first part of the hike wasn't too bad. I took off my rain gear pretty quick, it was just way to warm with it on. It showered on and off throughout the day. I just dealt with it. I ate lunch at the next shelter. It was basically downhill the whole 7 miles so I made pretty decent time. After I ate and refilled my water I moved on. Still a ways to go and a huge climb ahead of me. It was another 3 miles down to the gap. I crossed the road and went over this cute little ladder into a fenced in field. After a half mile of that the up hill started. 3 miles uphill with an elevation gain of 2000 feet. It was such a struggle. It was so freaking steep. Of course that's when the sun comes out and steam starts rising from the wet ground. It took forever to climb that bloody mountian. I finally made it to the top and had a pretty amazing view. I wasnt quite expecting it. After the climb it was another 3 miles to camp. I had some downhill and another uphill before I hit the shelter. It was suppose to be a small uphill to the shelter. Nope it wasnt. It kept going and going and going. I about threw a fit right there in the middle of the trail. I was tired, dirty, hungry and wet. All I wanted to do was set up my tent, wash in the creek and lay down. 2 minutes after my melt down I came across the shelter. I rolled into camp about 430. Not too bad. I layed out my tent to dry and then went down to the creek to wash. The water source was a zillion miles away but it was a pretty decent one. Along the way I came across Chillian! I met her and her boyfriend and thier dog a few days ago. We chatted at the hostel. Shes from Poughquag, NY right near where I used to work. So cool. They had to stay in Hot Springs a few extra days because the post office lost thier box. They took a shuttle to catch up. Pretty cool to see them again.I decided to be social and eat at the shelter picnic table. I'm glad I did! I met Gumby! He was the guy Sunny and I met Friday night on the way back from dinner on the lawn of the hostel. I asked if he remembered. He said he was drunk, I said so were we! Still awesome to see him in real life instead if a dark blob in the night. Goodman was also at the shelter. I hadn't seen him since my first week, so that was pretty cool. As I was putting my dinner stuff away Moment, Hip and Salmon roll into camp. I was excited to see them too! I didn't think they were going to catch up to me. They just took a Nero in Hot Springs and ended up doing a 20 mile day today. Contemplating my hike for tomorrow. Have a pretty huge climb. I thought about doing an easy day of 10 miles instead of another 15. The shelters are spaced wierd here. I prefer to camp around the shelters because there are people there. I could always camp somewhere a long the trail but then I would be by myself and you never know what kinda wacko I'd gonna walk by. We'll see how it goes i guess. I'm 26 miles from Erwin, TN where I have a box from my family waiting for me. A treat from Sunny Smiles waiting for me. And a shower. How fast can I get there.