Date: 2008-02-23
From: Erwin, TN

To: Erwin, TN
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Well, day two of my second zero day in Erwin. Tomorrow, I'm saying I'll be doing a NERO day since I'll be back hiking around 11 am.Undoubtedly, the highlight of this break in Erwin was when Trail Boss and I met and had dinner with Jane and Jim "Mango" Moody last night. We went to a "unique" burger joint in Johnson City and pigged out on the burgers and fries and some kind of liquid refreshment they call "beer". Great food, great conversation, and some fantastic war stories from prior hikes. I wanted to stick around to sing in the karaoke - but everyone else said "NO" and dragged me out. Anyway, Jane and Jim, thanks for a great time.Today is Saturday and the first half of of the day Trail Boss and I will be working on getting all of the resupply "stuff" in our room organized and ready for mailing forward. Have you ever hiked for a number of days and came up with some ideas on how to better do things? Like how to better carry your gear; or what would work better for certain functions? While you are hiing the ideas come up but there isn't that much opportunity to try them out. So we are also using today to try some of those great ideas that should/may for a better hiking experience. As mentioned before - sometimes doing something like walking through a large Walmart (and being creative) can give you ideas for improving things - at a lot cheaper price than at a Outfitter.From a planning standpoint, it seems realistic to plan for a five day trip from Erwin to Kinkora hostel. That's averaging 15 miles per day. Between Kinkora and Damascus is no more than four days - so Trail Boss is sending a four day food supply to Kinkora.Trail Boss, in the past, has driven to see me on a "once a month" basis. So Erwin was my first month completed; Pearisburg will be my second month. At Harpers Ferry (close to where we live) she will bring me home for 3-4 days. After that, two more, monthly visits and then a final visit at Katahdin. That's working on the assumption that everything goes okay.Today, after getting everything organized, I think we are going to head out and see a movie. That probably sounds like a simplistic thing to do - but after hiking for a month, something simple like that (movie, popcorn, etc) can be pretty enjoyable. Followed up by - of course - dinner at another restaurant!For those of you (many of you) who will be starting from Springer in a little more than a week, here are some last observations that may be helpful:1. Every shelter I stopped at (probably 75%) had plenty of water (even though it may not be flowing that quickly. Other water sources (per Wingfoot's past guide) appeared to be pretty much running - with a few exceptions.2. I saw a good bit of ice on the "non sun" side of mountains as recent as a week or so ago. The most recent was in the Smokies around Mt. Collins and Ice Water Springs shelters. Some may have melted by now. You don't need crampons but be careful where you step.3. A bigger problem (I thought) was the black mud "muck" that is on a lot of sections of the trail. If you step on it at an angle there is a good chance your boot will slide out from under you. I fell several times. The muck is especially bad around Big Bald mountain. 4. All of the hostels up through Erwin have pretty much been open and related facilities in operation. Standing Bear hostel has always been a "work in progress" - but that is the "rustic" quality of the place.5. The shelters in the Smokies have not changed much. Many are still dirty, dark, with chain link fences. Most now have bear cables but not much else has changed.6. In my first 4 weeks of hiking I have actually dropped from a size 36 jean to a size 32 - I kid you not. Just make sure you bring along enough food to offset the calories you will quickly begin burning.7. I have not suffered any injuries, blisters or other problems. That has been my norm in the past (and I've been lucky). But pace yourself and don't overdo it. I've managed to do two 20-mile days, and I may have been lucky to not overdo anything. For me, it seemed to take about three weeks to get my "hiker legs".Best of luck to everyone. Hope many will catch up before long.