Date: 2008-04-03
From: Double Spring Shelter

To: Mt Collins Shelter
Miles today: 6.3
Weather: light rain

I'm feeling a little low. I should've hitched into Gatlinburg with Pops, Blake, Cuatro, and Malamute.Now I'm at the shelter with a whole new (only slightly obnoxious) crew.The weather was rainy soupy nasty all day. It's supposed to be worse tomorrow--thunderstorms. I hope I don't get struck by lightning on the descent. If they asked me to go home tomorrow I just might say yes .By the way--great views from Clingman's Dome. If you're uncommonly fond of the color white.I haven't felt lonely in a while. Not since Franklin.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------I'm writing again 2.5 hours later, and feeling quite a bit better.A lot more people have shown up at the shelter, which means that I wasn't the only fool who didn't hitch into Gatlinburg from Clingman's Dome. I so could've made it to Newfound Gap today...but didn't want to hitch alone. I tried to hitch in one brief moment of insanity when the trail closely paralleled Clingman's Dome Road. It was pitiful--people swerved into the other lane while going around me. You'd think some kind hearted soul would stop and pick up a single female OBVIOUS hiker (my pack was sitting right next to me) who was stranded in the rain. I guess I just didn't look happy and harmless. I probably looked disgruntled. After a few cars passed without a pause I gave up and went back to the trail.I had just come from Clingman's Dome where five of us disgruntled cranky hikers were sitting around at the bottom of the observation tower. I think Pops was a little cranky because Leaping Turtle and Brush Strokes had passed the shelter last night in hopes (we later learned) of hitching at Clingman's. We had also walked down the wrong trail about half a mile and had to turn around to get to the observation tower. It was a badly marked section of trail. So Pops was ready to get to Gatlinburg and he didn't think he could hike the 8 miles from Clingman's to Newfound Gap.Pops stood at the base of the observation tower and approached random tourists to see if they were going into Gatlinburg, and if he could have a ride. The first people he asked said they weren't going into Gatlinburg for awhile, but they asked, "Why?" Pops said, "I was gonna ask if I could get a ride if you were." The father and daughter just looked at each other, and you could tell they were glad they'd said, "No". A few minutes later a mid-aged couple came down. Pops asked if they were going to Gatlinburg and they said, "unfortunately" (the city must be GREAT). He asked for a ride. The couple looked at each other, kinda freaked out. Luckily a ridge runner was there who explained that we weren't vagrants, just thru-hikers. So the lady said, "Okay, we got a truck, so we could take as many as can fit in the back." Score for Pops.The other hikers with us were planning on going to Newfound Gap today, but couldn't resist such an easy hitch. So I was left alone. Malamute tried to give me his knife because he said he doesn't like to see female hikers left alone. I had to refuse. "Well," I said, "I started alone...and I already have a knife."Here at the shelter: Fire (the flatulent wonder), Grasshopper, Stomps, Shuffles, Peanut, Wing It, Danger, Top Hat, Mouth, Maniac, Spire, and I'm probably forgetting somebody.Mouth brought a radio, which is a definite morale booster. I don't know why he carries the weight, it's a big radio that probably runs on several C or D batteries. Right now is Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused." Classic rock rocks.For the past few days in my excitement about Gatlinburg these lines have been repeating in my head, "It was Gatlinburg in mid July, I'd just hit town and my throat was dry, I stopped and thought I'd have myself a brew..."--Johnny Cash. I will have myself a Blue Moon with an orange slice in Gatlinburg. One more day.I hope Pops is in a hotel drinking prodigious amounts of milk and orange juice.Soon I'll see my hometown peeps. Oh, the novelty.