Date: 2008-05-28
From: Jennings Creek

To: Thunder Hill Shelter
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: light rain

Note to self: do NOT drink caffeinated soda before bed. I did not sleep well at all last night. I was awake quite a bit just tossing and turning, unable to sleep. I¢m sure it was directly related to drinking three cokes with dinner. Bad idea. It was hot last night too which always makes sleeping a bit uncomfortable. We get up at about 7:45am and pack our gear. I have been trying hard to be more efficient with my time in the mornings and it¢s been paying off. I am getting ready a lot quicker. The sky does not look happy at all so we eat and hit the Trail at 8:58am. Hey, it¢s still before 9! It¢s sprinkling already, but that¢s okay cause we started with our pack covers on. The forest canopy is so thick that we really don¢t get too wet at all. It sounds a lot worse than it really is. The temps are kind of cool and there is a breeze and with the light rain it actually makes for the perfect climbing weather. And climb we do! We start at 950 feet, the first time we have been below 1,000 feet on the entire Trail. We climb about 1,000 feet in elevation right at the start of our day to bring us to Fork Mountain. We take a little break at Bryant Ridge Shelter then push on another 1,200 feet in elevation to Floyd Mountain and take lunch at Cornelius Creek Shelter. Neither climb was bad at all. The weather really helps. I see a couple huge toads on the Trail and also a couple orange salamanders. I detour a short bit Black Rock where there should be some overlooks, but I am met with a wall of fog. We hike another 1,100 feet in elevation to Apple Orchard Mountain. I think the fact that I no longer view big climbs as something hellatious I need complete, and that they no longer kick my butt, is evidence that I am getting stronger, conditioned and healthy. I like these changes. I was grateful it wasn¢t hot like yesterday. I don¢t think I would have thought so lightly of these climbs if it was. On top of Apple Orchard Mountain we meet a man by the name of John H. and he tells us he has brought Trail Magic and will meet us at the shelter. Woo-Hoo! On the way there we go under the Guillotine, which is a boulder suspended between two other rocks and it is right on the AT. We walk under it and take pictures. Of course we take the one where we¢re screaming, as if it is falling on us. At the shelter we discover that everyone took that same photo!We meet John at the road where the AT crosses and also where his truck is parked and we help him to carry supplies to Thunder Hill Shelter. Once there John takes out his twin burner propane stove and makes pancakes, eggs, kielbasa and even has orange juice. We all sit around the picnic table and devour it. There is no need to cook dinner because he cooks until we are full. It was great! He tells us his son thru-hiked last year so he likes to give back to the hikers. As Brown Bag was gathering wood he found a baby deer in the woods. I went to look, take photos and videotape. It was the tiniest little fawn I have ever seen. It couldn¢t have weighed more than 5 pounds. It was snuggled in the leaves all curled up. I couldn¢t even tell it was there until he pointed it out to me. It was absolutely amazing, the best thing I have seen on the Trail so far. It was just beautiful. It just stared out, not moving or even blinking, just hiding safely in the brush. I really wanted to pick it up and cuddle it, but I resisted the urge. It had stopped sprinkling awhile ago and the sun did come out, but it was pretty cold when we stopped moving around. We have a big, hot fire and Busdriver, Sunkist, Kyanite, Sunbeam, Brown Bag, G¢Town Colonel, and Brad all play poker using candy as money. I sit by the fire and enjoy the show.