Date: 2003-06-14
From: Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, Hot Springs - Zero Day

To: Spring Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: overcast clouds

It¢s 5:40 p.m. It began to sprinkle just as I sat down to write, so I moved the small picnic table into the entrance of the shelter ¢ mostly under cover of the tin shelter roof. I am alone (so far) at Spring Mountain Shelter, just 11 miles north of Hot Springs. This shelter is situated in thick woods, almost no clearing and a trail leading out front downhill to a spring. I awoke around 6:15 and quickly got ready to move my pack and gear out of my room. I took my pack outside to the front steps and ate breakfast there ¢ tuna and pop tarts ¢ got rid of my trash and left for the walk through town, across the river, and the long climb out of Hot Springs and the French Broad River basin. The first climb was up Lover¢s Leap Ridge, a steep climb above the river with many rocky promontory points to look back at the town and the river. The views were spectacular but the weather was cloudy and misty with some rain, and the colors were vivid. It was a long and strenuous hike up. Next was Mill Ridge, followed by Rich Mountain. I visited the fire tower atop Rich Mountain and stopped there to cook lunch. Two young college girls came up while I was cooking. They parked at 70/25 in the gap, and hiked in from there. One was from Michigan and one from Maine. They are on a six-week intern program in Charlotte, NC ¢ one in Physical Therapy and I¢m not sure of the other. They ate a snack and then we took turns operating each other¢s cameras so we¢d have some pictures of the tower, ourselves, and the surrounding ridges ¢ not many visible due to dense forest. They went south to their car and I continued north about 3.5 miles to arrive at Spring Mountain Shelter around 3:30. I¢m glad I did not continue on because I¢d be camping in my tent right now in a downpour. Today was pretty tough, and I am thankful for short mileage (11 miles) and an early stop. It is around 6:00, steady to heavy rain, and the woods are kind of dark for this time of day. I have eaten, hung my food over a tree branch and have everything ready for the night ¢ even brushing my teeth. Around 4:00 a group of 11 Outward Bound kids with two young women for guides came through. It was sunny and warm then. They were very active and had many questions for me about my hike, gear, distance traveled, etc. I helped the leaders plan for two more miles of hiking to a campsite with a water source, and they left after about 45 minutes. This shelter holds five or six, and they needed to get a little further today so I am left here alone. I was somewhat preoccupied all day with some family business that Marlene shared with me last evening when I called her (collect) from Hot Springs. I have spent some time in Proverbs and a good time of prayer trying to prepare myself to take care of things when I get home. Being alone tonight is probably what I need in order to focus on the Lord and other matters in my life, but I sure do miss Marlene on a night like this. Sometimes I feel like the heartaches of a 16-year-old with spring fever and puppy love all at the same time. But I am so happy to have a good relationship with her ¢ it¢s precious, and we see so many friends whose marriage has broken after many years. Tomorrow is the longest day remaining with 15+ miles to get to Jerry Cabin Shelter. I plan to leave at first light and just hike until I get there. I hope the rain stops before morning and a little wind to knock the water off the grass and weeds beside the trail would also be helpful. I plan to read in ¢A River Runs Through It¢, and then try to get some sleep. Thankfully the rain is lowering the temperature and the bugs seem to have become less bothersome. I love you Sweetheart, and miss you especially tonight. dp