Date: 2008-05-26
From: concrete dam and pond

To: camp creek bald
Miles today: 16.0

It is a spectacular day, the kind that makes me feel lucky to be alive and even luckier to be here, outside to experience it in all its splendor.I am ahead of Doug today for the first time in the 3 weeks we've been out here. Because I was up early (my normal 6AM) and ready so decided to start out without him. When I left he was still in his tent.I just had a delightful conversation with an older hiker--Harve 57, who was sitting against a fallen tre, looking pensive and tired. He still had his backpack on and it looked like it must weigh 80 pounds! We talked a bit, about a lot of things: him wanting to make sassafras tea and missing soda and why I am out here alone (he found that worrisome) He also laughed when I told him my trail name, and Doug's name. "But you're ahead of him!" He said. I laughed and said how this was the first time. It was nice to stop for a few minutes and just chat. He asked me what I miss, being out here and I thought about it for a second and answered, "fresh fruit and my Honey." The community of hikers that is out here is nice. When someone is passing they are almost always willing to stop a minute and chat, many, when I'm alone will ask me if I'm doing okay. They might give information on how far water or a shelter is, or speak of something interesting from the trail. Lately I have so enjoyed these conversations with strangers. So after talking to Harve 57, I moved on off into the forest. For some reason the spot and especially the smell of the forest (don't know the cause?) so reminded me of my childhood and especially, our cabin in Alleghany. We would go there for weekends now and then and my brothers and I, or just me by myself would head off into the woods and be gone the entire day. There was such exploring to do! Flowers to smell and pick, salamanders to find, trees to climb, vines to swing on, rocks to explore, paths to venture down, butterflies to look at, streams to walk in, frogs to catch, deer to watch, logs to look under, feathers and seeds and petals and pinecones to collect....Now, standing here with the birds singing all around me, I look out into the forest and think of my father (killed by a drunk driver when I was 19) and wish he were still alive. I know he would appreciate this place, this Trail and especially, this grand endeavor of mine and Doug's. I will imagine him with me today as I walk along, alone, soaking up this rich place and all its wonders. I stop so often! Sometimes because I am needing a minute from the uphill climbs but more so because I want to absorb the place, the moment, the silence. The stops are my favorite part about being out here. When I see people always rushing by I wonder why they are here. It makes me think of a grand museum and someone paying to go in, then walking through, not looking at anything, getting to the door, walking out and running into someone they know. "Oh, it was fabulous! Terrific! Loved it!" But how could they know if they never really took any time to look?? We passed up the Little Laurel shelter because there were lots of people already there and no good tent sites. Instead we continued north to the top of the mountain. Doug and I have decided this trail should be renamed 'the if there's a summit we'll climb it, if there's an uphill we'll find it Trail.'Because we always seem to be walking uphill. Even when we are supposed to be going to a gap, downhill. We camped at the junction to the fire tower. For the first time on this hike we were bothered by lots of gnats, trying to dart in our eyes and ears. So pesky! It was hard to function and I was so glad to pull out my lovely bug head net and put it on. I'm sure it looked funny but boy was I glad to have it! Then, later we made a fire, one with LOTS of smoke and that made them all go away. Doug and I walked up to the firetower, which turned out to be not very welcoming. There was razor wire after the first set of ancient-looking stairs. Doug stayed to make a phone call while I walked back to the campsite and sat by the fire.