Date: 2004-06-02
From: Derrick Knob Shelter

To: Double Spring Gap Shelter
Miles today: 7.2
Weather: broken clouds

Up and off on the trail at 7:40 AM. I made it to Silers Bald Shelter at 11:20 and stopped for a break and a little lunch. I am trying to eat better this time around. This day was not too eventful and I made it to Double Spring Gap Shelter at 1:30 PM. I thought about going on to Mt. Collins Shelter but thought I would rest up today since I had a long hike coming up tomorrow going over Newfound Gap and Clingmans Dome.    There were two really nice guys camping out at Silers Bald and we got to chat a little. They were from the Washington DC area. Ben and Antone. After a while my first contact came with a group of four, three guys and one girl. They dropped by about 2:30 and took a break. They said they were out of food and were going to hike on to Clingmans Dome and get a ride down to Gatlinburg. At Clingmans Dome they would depend on the sympathy of the non hikers to give them some of their trail snacks. I did not get a very good first impression of this quartet. Soon they moved on. I was to see them on the trail several days later and find out they were from the University of Alaska and were living in Fairbanks. They were out to see how much of the trail they could cover before having to return to Fairbanks. I had several good conversations with them further down the trail and got to like them. More on them later and photos.   Ben and Antone were funny to be with. They first pitched their tent outside the shelter. I would have been the only one on the inside that night. Then before dark thunder began and they decided to take down the tent and sleep in the shelter. It never did rain. Ben fixed his supper and found out his one eating utensil, a plastic fork, was broken beyond use. I let him borrow my titanium sprok and he was able to enjoy his supper. Ben is the CEO of a non-profit organization in DC that works with getting Russians over to the US to lean how to conduct business and then return to Russia.It is intended to improve US/Russian relations. Sounds like a great project.    Ben and Antone were trying to figure out some trails to hike for the next couple of days. I saw them again at Clingmans Dome for the last time.    This was a beautiful day for hiking. There are not many flowers out. For the second day in a row I had a Ruffled Grouse do her dance right by the side of the trail and doing her best to scare me. It worked! The first time, yesterday, was going up Thunderhead and my mind was on just making the climb. Out of nowhere this burst of wings flapping and dancing around right beside the trail got my attention in a hurry. Today I had a little warning. Some of the young grouse began flying around first. Then momma did her thing. I was somewhat ready this time. Double Spring Gap has a good water supply and a privy. Pennyh and Pilgram were there from Maryland just stopping for a water break. We had a good visit. They were southbound and after their lunch they hiked on. Another couple from Maryland stopped and chatted a while and then hiked on. I will be happy to get out of the Smokies and will be able to pitch my tent again and not have to sleep in these shelters. (Unless it is raining, then the shelters are a welcomed sight)Well off to a good night's sleep tonight.