Date: 2003-04-05
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rock Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.1
Weather: heavy intensity rain

And did it ever rain that night -- so glad to be in the shelter. Woke up to see Healer doing Tai Chi. Rain had let up a bit -- Moo (in rain gear) & Healer (without rain gear) hoofed it the 2/10 of a mile to get water. Moo all set and Healer getting his water -- with Healer's OK (b/c he doesn't see too well), Moo returned to the shelter (Healer had led Moo to the water, after all). And the dkies opened up, torrential downpours. After approx 20 minutes and no sign of Healer, Moo started asking around -- no one had seen Healer return, but he chats up a lot of folks and there was an old shelter near by -- no probs. Having had some hot chocolate & oatmeal and still no sign of Healer, Moo was about to send out the search party, when Healer reappeared, claiming to have been lost in the downpour, only to be rescued by Michelle of Michelle and Josh. Any way.Slow start that am b/c of heavy rains -- Peeps, of course, picked the moment of heaviest rain to set out on his 4 mile odyssey. Moo had stayed up rather late reading the shelter journal the night before. Kept reading about pizza ahead & Rainbow Springs Campground and a friendly, red shelter squirrel. Met the squirrel, did not meet the pizza.Pays to be slow b/c by the time we set out, the rains had stopped and the sun shone through and we were rewarded with a great viewpoint approx 1.7 miles into the day's hike. Ran into TFS & SL @ the viewpoint.42 powered on the trail that day and Moo lagged behind a bit, hiking with Montpelier Pete, who had camped @ Beech Gap and hiked in the rain all morning. Pete's wife, Roberta, is the Montpelier librarian -- Pete's invited us to stop in for a tour of the library and the town -- we'll see y'all in October -- thanks for the offer, Pete.While walking, Moo met a very nice guy, named Woolard something -- he was getting in his final training hikes for his '03 thru-hike -- he was a very fit guy, maybe 70 yrs old -- planning to start later in April, heading North to Hot Springs, where his wife would pick him up, truck him on up to Katahdin, from where he'd flip flop and head South to Hot Springs -- we'll be looking for ya, Woolard -- good luck!!Moo caught up w/ 42 and hiked from Betty Creek Gap (4320') the approx 2.5 miles up Albert Mtn and up the fire tower (5220') -- great, tough climb -- 1st rock scrambling, then rhododendron thickets, followed by root & limb grabbin' and rock and wood steps (thanks to you trail maintainers)-- arrived at the firetower to find a group of Va Tech students -- climbed up the 55 step firetower, where we were rewarded w/ beautiful views -- 360 degrees -- lovin' it!! Enjoyed our lunch in the sunshine. Montepelier Pete stopped up for dessert & to say hello. After a relaxing hour-long break, we moved on to Rock Gap Shelter (by-passing Big Spring Shelter, just 0.6 miles away).Once again, long walk the rest of the day -- 6 more miles -- 36.2 in 3 days -- tough, but exhilirating! Moo & 42 treating blisters -- becoming quite the field medics -- after 3 more miles -- we hit an important AT milestone =100 mile mark on the trail!!! Yee haw!!! Only 2072.6 to go -- just up over that next mtn and around the corner.Arrived @ the shelter to meet Blaze & Face from Ohio -- very cool couple enjoying their hike together. Learned about the joys of instant mashed potatoes for dinner -- so damn good!! Healer and Monte Pete were there as well. Set up our tent near the shelter and watched Blaze live up to his name, as he razed and reconstructed the shelter fire ring -- building a camp fire that warmed us all up that evening -- camp fires are better than CNN -- much more interesting to watch, especially in war times.Went to sleep -- lost an hour that night due to the spring ahead -- only got about 11 hrs, instead of our customary 12 hrs sleep.