Date: 2012-04-20
From: Mile Marker 404.0 - Vango/Abby Memorial Hostel

To: Watauga Lake Shelter - Tented
Miles today: 22.8
Weather: broken clouds

Day 26 - Friday, April 20thHiking Days 20 / Nero Days 5 /  Zero Days 1Start Location: Vango/Abby Memorial HostelMile Marker: 404.0Ending Location: Watauga Lake Shelter - TentedMile Marker: 426.8Time: 10h 10minMiles: 22.8Weather: morning started perfect, especially since I was indoors sporting my private room.  Started the hike in just my shirt.  Sun off and on.  High  72-75ish.  Evening nice still mid 60 at 7:30. Even with a big soft bed I was up at 6:00.  With no one to bother since I had the room to myself I was able to fuss as I wanted to.  I had my gear spread around since some of it was still a bit damp from the rain the other day, especially my tent.  So I had to repack everything and then pack my pack.  Not a big deal.  I l ow the pattern by now so I could pack everything rather efficiently.  I about 10 minutes from scattered about to nicely packed.  I went downstairs about 6:45 or so. Part of my big food purchase yesterday included some oatmeal and hot chocolate.  Since I had a stove available I boiled water and had both.  I threw away the hard boiled eggs I made yesterday because with the oven on for the pizzas last night they sat above the stove exhaust and just kept cooking. Bummer.  Stop at the privy on the way back to the trail.  This one was completely enclosed so it smelled really bad.  The open privies are not really as bad as you may think. On about six miles I stopped for a Ramen.  Nice relaxing stop.  My mind is still on getting to Damascus now to figure out if I was going home or not.  Nothing I could do without phone service so I tried not to worry about it.  On the way I ran into a few older hikers InAndOut, model-t, and dragonfly out for a couple of days.  I think they are in their 70's.  Also I ran into Heading-out and tag-along, two hikers I ran into during my 2010 hike.  It took me a bit to rembered them.  You meet so many hikers for just one quick time it's hard to place them all. Passed by Kincora and made it to Laural Falls after a long steep rock step down.  Nice place.  Took pictures, had a snack and took off.  Hit the big climb for the day.  2000 feet up.  I remember it being harder but here again much effort was given to add more switchbacks.  As much as I miss the challenge of a hard climb, the switchbacks are awelcomed addition when your going up them.  On top I came across Santa and Gnome.  An older couple who started on March 4th I think they said. Made it down to the Shook Lake Recreation Area where I stopped for a bit. With only two easy miles to the shelter I am going to stop at, I decided I would hang here and cook my meal since it was do nice.  I remember the next shelter being damp and buggy.  This area was sunny any pleasant.  As it turned out I also had phone service.  I made the calls I need to make and now feel that although the situation at home is bad, it is probably not enough to get me off the trail at this point.  Well see by Damascus in two more days.  This recreation area had piped fresh water and garbage cans.  Two nice features I took full advantage of. While I was at the area I heard a car come and someone got out saying thanks for the ride.  I knew it had to be a hiker.  Ther is a way you can blue blaze around the big climb, go to town and do a short hitch back to this point.  Sure enough, Catfish comes walking over.  Hike your own hike.. Hitch your own hike, whatever you want to call it.  Go figure.  Finished up, got to the shelter and tented out.  The Germans arrived a bit later and also tented.  They hung their food bag over mine which meant I needed to move it off mine in the morning.  It was big and weighed much more the my entire pack with food and water in it.  Oh well.  Time for bed.