Date: 2003-08-09
From: Hpt Springs, N.C.

To: Little Laurel Shelter
Miles today: 20.0
Weather: light rain

Saturday August 9 The Smokey Mt Caf©, across from the Sunnybank Inn, opens at 7AM and I am there for some French Toast. The waitress has that common southern charm and friendly accent. Several locals are there also and don¢t pay me too much mind as AT hikers are common in Hot Springs. I am on the road out of town and across the French Broad River by 7:30. It¢s a scenic climb out of town, looking down on the town and river as I leave it behind. 4-5 miles into the morning I come to a fog shrouded pond that has a nice bench to contemplate life on. It takes me about 30 seconds to contemplate before I am up and hiking again. 6 miles into the hike I come upon a mid 30¢s Dad and his about 9 year old daughter who were at the Deer Mt Shelter 2 nights ago. I see a great relationship forming. But, the daughter is ready to stop hiking so her Mom is picking her up at the highway #23 about a 12 mile ahead. He plans to hike 9 miles more to Allen Gap. He won¢t catch me I think to myself as he not so subtly eyes me and obviously thinks he will catch me and run my nearly 20 years older ass into the ground. After ascending about 1200¢, at 11 AM I go off trail a ways to see the Ridge Mt Fire Tower. But the stairs to the tower are blocked off and the view is still fogged in so it¢s a small letdown. So after a break it¢s back to the trail. A gravestone is by the trail, seems the fellow was hiking the AT, had a heart attack and died so they appropriately placed a marker by the trail. Not too much further there¢s another marker of a lady hiker. I do a double take when I see she was only 50 when she died. I reach Spring Mt Shelter by 12:30, have a light lunch and head for Allen Gap, 4 miles ahead, where there is a gas station. I focus on a cold Pepsi. But when I reach Allen Gap, the gas station has obviously been out of business for a few years. No cold Pepsi today. Crestfallen, I return to the trail for the 5 mile, 1100¢ ascent to Little Laurel Shelter (3,300¢). I console myself with the thought that the young Dad didn¢t catch me anyway. I run into a couple of AT trail stewards checking the trail. I thank them for such a wonderful trail. The fog still shrouds any long distance views. The ever present AT white blazes guide me along. Man they are always nice to see. I arrive at the shelter at 5:15 PM and find the shelter full of gear and a sound asleep young lady too. I try to make a lot of noise but she doesn¢t awaken. She¢s zonking hard. Soon tho a young fellow named Ben walks up and then Amanda wakes up.   They are from Minnesota but now go to college in Boston. This is their 2nd day on the AT. With all the gear strewn about I can tell they are not seasoned hikers. They admit the hike was a quick decision to do something before returning to classes. So they went to an outfitter who gladly sold them a bunch of gear that they don¢t need and are now carrying. They hope to hike to the Smokey National Park which is about 60-70 miles south. They won¢t get that far unless they hitchhike, I think. Amanda makes some tea a little later and we all have a cup of the strong brew. As a result, we all toss and turn and lay awake most of the night. I also have a recurring nightmare that I have had occasionaly since a teenager. I have it when I am overly tired.SUMMARY AUGUST 9 HOT SPRINGS, N.C. TO LITTLE LAUREL SHELTER, 19.6 MILES, CUMULATIVE MILES 54.