Date: 2016-03-18
From: Curley Maple Gap Shelter

To: Greasy Creek Gap
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Blues Brother and I have been aware that a storm is heading this way. It seems likely to arrive at a time we'd rather not experience it - Roan Mountain and its 6000 foot elevation. So our hiking plan changed a bit to provide options depending on an updated forecast. Today's hiking destination became Greasy Creek Gap, 20 miles away. There were multiple climbs, including Unaka Mountain, to push through. Given our 2 miles per hour average, we started hiking right after daylight. I started hiking with Patches. He is a young guy I first met briefly in Hot Springs. Patches is from Indiana and he has 4 months to complete his hike. He hikes a minimum of 20 miles per day so I knew I'd not be able to stay with his pace for long but I wanted whatever additional time I could get witmh him. Patches, Blues Brother and I had stayed up way past hiker midnight last night talking all things AT and sharing a little about who we were. As we talked, it became apparent that Patches was the type of person whose company everyone will enjoy. Patches hiked the first week with his girlfriend. He winced as he told of the misery they encountered while she hiked with him. His girlfriend named him Patches in recognition of his first week's facial hair that is here and there, but definitely not going to fill in everywhere. Beth arrives in a week for her first visit, I am wondering if I didn't already have a trail name whether she'd name me "Nice Try". I stayed with Patches until I stopped to take my first picture of the day. Patches was polite and stopped, turned around, and came back. I wished him the best and "released" him so that he could accomplish his hike's goals - I could tell that he was respecting my age and needed to hear that I was okay with his moving on. Great guy, another that I hope to hear good things about up the trail. I hiked alone for most of the morning. I was moving pretty quickly - maybe Patches's pace was an inspiration. Blues Brother was surprised to be ahead of me and I told him I'd gone off the trail to take care of business - Tennessee shelters don't have privies so you have to dig a cat hole and I chose to dig mine far from the trail. Which reminds me, I don't think I've mentioned "How To Shit In The Woods" - that's the name of the book. Millions of copies have been sold, in many languages. The book is hilarious and informative. Sorry if this is more than you want to know. So Blues Brother told me that he got big time trail magic that arrived after I had already passed that point. It sounded delicious and I learned from another hiker that the same person was there last year too. I told Blues Brother he missed getting a good laugh at my expense when he missed my 3rd fall of this trip. This fall was complete. I went down face-forward with hands and knees all embracing the ground. A couple scrapes but, fortunately, no damage done except for pride.Beauty Spot was properly named. It provided gorgeous views in all directions. This wasn't named as a bald, but I am learning that these balds would be perfect locations to tent. Unaka Mountain offered no views, despite its 5180 feet, but it gave a dense spruce forest that was wonderful to experience. Tall trees with new growth at various stages depending on the openings created by fallen trees.Twenty miles provided plenty of tired moments but all in all this was a great day of hiking.