Date: 2003-06-18
From: Bald Mountain Shelter

To: No Business Knob Shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: light rain

A rainy day. I wonder if it was a day like this that inspired Hemingway to write some of the chapters in "A Farewell to Arms". It was pretty constant. I was up at first light and ready to go at 7:30 ¢ first one out of camp. The ladies said goodbye to me and promised to pray for my safety and strength for the rest of the trip. They also took my journal information so they could find out more about my gear and hope to be able to read my story and see my pictures later. Just great people to meet on a hike. They are hiking south today. There were several fairly tough climbs but mostly it was a pretty easy hike ¢ 10.6 miles to No Business Knob Shelter. I intended to stop and cook lunch at Spivey Gap, but as I arrived there the light sprinkle became a downpour so I just ate a quick snack and kept hiking to the shelter ¢ the entire way in heavy rain. I got here about 1:20 and spread out all my gear, changed into my dry stuff and began to cook. The two young couples from last night at the shelter showed up about an hour and a half later. One couple, a brother and sister, stopped to eat and then continued to Erwin, and the end of their hike. The other couple (Brian aka ¢Duck¢ and Sasha aka ¢Waltzing Matilda¢) are here in the shelter. We had a very good time just talking while we watched the rain dripping from the roof overhang, and we had to talk very loud because the raindrops made a loud racket on the tin shelter roof. Around 6:00 four more hikers came through, then a fifth (in their group) about an hour later. They are tenting. They saw a bear on the way up from Erwin, and we have hung our food in bear bags for the night. So, for now at least, there is lots of empty space in the shelter, which is nice. Today was my last real hiking day, with tomorrow being a short six-mile trek into town. I had a good time alone in the woods with the Lord, and with my own thoughts. In thinking about this hike, I can¢t help but think of how much the weather has had its effect. There were no completely clear days or nights. I have not seen the moon or stars, and only saw the sunshine at brief intervals, except for some concentrated sunshine near Charlie¢s Bunion in the Smokies. From almost every high perch there were few times when I could see long distances. Mostly I could see down, and into a cloud. However, a wet woods can be beautiful on some hillsides where you can look up to a steep side hill full of large trees, and down, below the trail a long way into a very deep ravine coming up the mountain side from below. I saw many of those, and they are among my favorites. Most of the animals I saw turned out to be either deer, rabbits, or grouse doing the broken wing act. I also saw many non-poisonous snakes, too numerous to mention each time. It seems like I should have seen lots of ducks too, but I didn¢t! I have had few nights alone, but was able to hike alone most of the way. It¢s hard to believe the 175-mile trip is down to six miles remaining. I¢m sure it feels like a long time to Marlene ¢ she does not relish being alone. I do not need to get an early start in the morning since she will not arrive in Erwin until around 2:00. If its not raining I may hang around the shelter until later, maybe 10:00. Then I can hike awhile and stop as I see fit along the way. I am thankful to God for keeping me safe from accidents, sickness, animal bites, etc. I prayed for His protection, strength and guidance. It¢s funny how many hikers lose the trail for a while and go a few miles out of the way. Several have told me about doing that on this trip. It has been a good hike and I hope to finish well tomorrow. It will be so good to see Marlene and be able to talk. We have much to catch up on. Can¢t wait. Goodnight Sweetheart. dp