Date: 2013-06-04
From: Catawba mtn Shelter

To: Lamberts Meadow Shelter
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: scattered clouds

I had heard people walk by the shelter so they should've broken all the spider webs. But I was still walking in them, lots of them on my face. Argh! Storytime caught up and we hiked together. For awhile. I was glad of that because now I had someone to take my picture on McAffee Knob and Tinker cliffs. McAffee was Awesome!!! It was a nice clear day so the view was spectacular. I'd been up there before but it was still magnificent. I didn't remember all those all those fairly short but steep grassy ups to Tinker Cliffs but it sure wore me out we finally get to the cliffs and they were all grown over. It used to be fairly bare with short shrubs and trees not out on the cliffs, I remembered being able to see a lot of the cliffs but now they were all blocked off from each other and separate. (note from transcriber: in early spring the trees are still bare, that is what she remembers) We had lunch up there and I ate a delicious milkyway. I don't normally pack candy bars but my dad had sent this my way and it sure was tasty. On our way to Lamberts Meadow Shelter we passed a guy carrying some sort for gardening tool. He was maintaining the trail whacking down a lot of the poison ivy, stinging nettles and grasses. I thanked him and marched on happily glad that someone cares about the over growth we got to the shelter which had vines growing in it from the back. It looked a little old and creepy, but I figured I'd stay unless someone I knew camped farther down at the campsites Storytime and I chatted for a bit and he went on to Daleville after about an hour. Tank showed up and shared an orange with me. fresh fruit tastes so incredible out here in the woods, he, Captain Dan and Wild Willy are using a car to hop forward along the AT and slack pack. They stay at campgrounds and hike 20 miles south or north. They were eating well for thru hikers. He left and I was alone at a shelter again, I tried journaling but the bugs were too bad to stay still to long. I prayed that I wouldn't have to eat dinner alone and just as I got my food and stove out 2 section hikers arrived. A 70ish lady and her son set up their tent in the shelter because of bugs. She was section hiking the AT in very small sections but had done most all of it north of Daleville in the past 15 years. Her son said she kept saying that she couldn't do it anymore, that this was her last time hiking but here she was still hiking. She's from PA and gave me her info for trail magic later on as she only lives 8 miles from the trail. They went to bed fairly early and I tried jounrnaling some more but got fed up with the bus. I tried wearing my bug net over my face but my hands and neck were still open to insects. I decided there would still be plenty of room in the shelter if I set up my tent. I set up my tent in the shelter and laughed at the bugs that were buzzing around the mesh, attempting to get me. After dark, I heard some hikers come through but they didn't set up in the shelter. For the first time, I didn't have oatmeal or hot choc, but instead had Mountain House Granola with Blueberries. It was very tasty and I didn't even have to cook. It made getting ready very quick.