Date: 2004-05-10
From: Cosby Knob Shelter

To: Ground Hog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 17.6
Weather: scattered clouds

Today was an interesting day. We all seem to be having more trouble waking up as early as we did toward the beginning of the trip. I think it's due both to the warmer temperatures and to us being more accustomed to sleeping outdoors and in close proximity to new people. So we got off to a late start under a clear blue sky. About all of the eight or so miles to Davenport Gap (border of Smoky Mountain National Park) was an easy downhill. We killed that off quite quickly, even with many snack breaks. At one point I stopped at an overlook to wait for some of the others to catch up. The spot was not visible as you approached so I was planning to rustle some of the bushes and say. "Roar! I'm a bear!" I waited and no one came, even though they had just been behind me a few minutes earlier. Then I remembered a side trail a little ways back. Turns out I had taken the side trail rather than the AT. Serves me right. I caught up with the others and found out that Second Wind and Cough Drop had spotted a bear just after leaving the shelter. The rest of us all missed it. We arrived at Davenport Gap around noon. Our exit from the Smokies was rather anti-climatic but I think we are all happy that horses are not allowed on the trail from here on. Travis, Moxie, Samurai, and Whoa went down the road to Mountain Moma's to celebrate with cheeseburgers while the rest of us watched their packs. I left the Gap by myself and walked along a cascading brook for about a mile. At one point the stream converged and entered a hollowed out log. The water exited from the other end in a 10-foot waterfall. Eventually the stream entered the Pigeon River where I ran into Second Wind and Cough Drop having lunch. A kayaker and canoer were out enjoying the rapids and stopped in for a snack. Travis soon showed up and the four of us headed north. A mile later the other three headed for the Standing Bear Hostel. Travis is staying there tonight. Sounds like his hike will end this week at Hot Springs. He was not planning to go to Maine, although he did not have a particular destination. Hopefully we will see him again in Hot Springs or before. There was a big climb after passing the hostel and it was hot and humid. I soon ran out of water and fortunately found a stream where a large salamander was sitting in the rushing water. After doing a poor job of navigating the slippery rocks and getting tangled in a mass of spider webs, I again had that "blood of the mountain". Around then there came the sound of yet another storm in the distance. It was soon over me and I just kept going up and up, surrounded by tall trees. Before hitting the ridgeline, I came across a small ravine or gully thing, headed in to wait out the worst of the storm. It's a good thing I did because shortly after, the trail crossed a field for about half a mile at the top of the mountain. I made it to the full shelter rather late and ate a horrible dinner of mashed potatoes and cheese. I am starting to become tired of all the same food over and over and will have to start trying some new things. Bear bagging did not work very well for me tonight either. Three branches I tried all broke. Hopefully the fourth holds, and hopefully the branches above my hammock are strong and healthy. I am now in the hammock and water drops are falling from the branches above. I think I've now figured out how to set up this thing for the rain (knock on wood). I'm wondering where everyone else ended up tonight. They must be stealth camping or at the hostel. Here at the shelter tonight are Smurf, Len and six or seven other new people, most whose names I didn't catch. But I think some are Spider, Brother, Sara and Brittney. Now for today's random thoughts while hiking: I began wondering how many cats the Fontana Dam could hold back. This thought caused me to guesstimate the density of a cat and its volume. I don't think I'm going to go any further with this one.