Date: 2012-05-02
From: Cherry Gap Shelter

To: Campsites past Overmountain shelter
Miles today: 26.2
Weather: broken clouds

What little food I have is disappearing fast. I ate my last Cliff bar and a crumbled up pop tart for breakfast. It looks like I will run out of food this afternoon. If I walk quickly I won't be hungry for long ; ) I made good time this morning 3 mph for the first 9 miles. If the rangers had been out with a radar gun they would have given me a ticket!Down at Hughes Gap road I hit trail magic and I was lucky because they said they were about to leave. A couple local hikers with the day off brought out a cooler full of sodas, a gallon of milk, cans of fruit, fresh apples, and oranges to share with the hikers. It was exactly what I needed, I stuffed my face and they encouraged me to take some for the road. Now, I'm not saying you should carelessly head off into the woods without enough food, but both times I did it trail angels have come to the rescue. After saying some sincere thank you's I climbed up to 6200 ft. Coming down the backside from Roan High Knob I went through what I think was the prettiest part of the A.T. so far. Round Bald, Jane's Bald, then Grassy Ridge Bald are mountain peaks that have been cleared of trees. You can see the trail cross over one peak then another in the distance. The mountains are all around, it's truly breathtaking. It reminds me of the sound of music when they are out in the green grass with the mountains in the background.I walked a little further to the "Overmountain Shelter" it's a large converted barn. I climbed up to the hay loft and looked out at some menacing clouds over the next ridge, I could hear the sound of thunder. While I contemplated whether or not to stay in the barn, I had dinner. Two apples and a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter from a nearly empty tub.I don't know why I am this way but I often walk past the path of least resistance. The muscles around my right shin were sore, I had already walked almost 24 miles, and it looks like it's about to rain. I have a perfectly good barn to sleep in but I strapped on my pack and started up the trail anyway. Let me say again, this area is beautiful. When I was close to the top of the next bald, I wanted to get a picture. As I turned around I saw the thundering rain clouds headed my way. It then occurred to me that it probably wasn't smart to be walking across a grassy mountaintop with aluminum lightning rods in my hands. There were no trees around. Before I could get my picture it started to rain. I ran over to a boulder and put on my new rain pants and jacket, I also slipped the rain cover over my pack. Lightning struck in the cloud above me and I freaked out. I bolted down the side of the mountain and into the trees. I found an overhanging rock and crawled under it to get out of the rain. When the rain let up I came out and hurriedly got back to the trail. I took my picture and asked God not to strike me with lightning for being stupid. I speed walked / half jogged to get over the peak and was grateful when the trail turned into the woods and the switchbacks started going downhill.I set up my tent and now I'm warm, dry, and safe. The hiker sleeping in the tent next to mine is snoring so loud, that if there are any bears around he'll surely scare them away.