Date: 2009-05-11
From: Davenport Gap Shelter

To: Roaring Fork Shelter
Miles today: 18.7
Weather: light rain

Made an 8.00am start after some light rain had eased off and dondered on down to Davenport Gap and the official end of the Smokies. Shortly after we passed under Interstate 40 where a bright red bird caught my attention and which, with my limited knowledge, I took to be a Cardinal. I try to pay attention to the birds. There are these little slate grey things with white sides to their tails that are omnipresent. There were then what I took for Blue Jays at Muscrat Creek (kind of like magpies but blue). I¢ve seen a turkey or two, a few thrush like things and some other oddballs that one day I might be proud to name in an authorative tone. Although, I fear that day is still some way off.Anyway, post birding or twitching or whatever it was I was doing under I-40, we passed 3 more dogs wandering the trail (I most definitely wasn¢t doing any dogging!) on our way to Standing Bear Farm where we (Pete and I) planned to top up our food bags with snacks and one or two more substantial items. We passed Natski (from Japan) coming the other way and then spent a pleasantly relaxing couple of hours at Standing Bear in the company of the hosts. Kermit , Jackie (who had followed us in) and Daisy the horse who popped in briefly.We left at mid-day intending to only go 7 miles to the next shelter but as it turned out it felt more like 7 miles vertically rather than horizontally as the Trail wound upwards and upwards. With the mist closing in and continual drizzle there was nothing for it but to plod on. Snowbird Mountain was completely misted in and I estimated visibility at around 35 yards from the marker posts spaced out across the ¢bald¢ mountain top. Ordinarily you might have hoped for great views but we couldn¢t even see the Air Traffic Control beacon that sits up here, although we could still hear the hum of its generator nearby. We made the shelter at 2pm and although continuing on would make it a big day (for us at any rate) it seemed to make sense so we bid adieu to Tunnel Rat who we had met at the shelter before heading out again.It was a bit of a gamble as this section would take us up and over Max Patch and more famed views. We could have waited until tomorrow but even then there is never any guarantee of good weather and with the afternoon giving the impression of clearing up we headed purposefully onwards.The walking wasn¢t bad and I enjoyed walking late into the evening. I usually like this part of the day the best (if I¢m not too tired) and so far the importance of not overdoing it physically had generally precluded the opportunity.As hoped ¢the Patch¢ was clear and the views were certainly worth the effort. It was cold though ¢ cold enough so be uncomfortable in less impressive spots but only cold enough to be a mild inconvenience up here. We stopped fro about 20 minutes eating, speaking and looking. We could have spent a little longer but I was keen to get the circulation going again and to make the shelter before nightfall. We managed both and were met by Bojangles with the line ¢Do you want a cookie?¢More of Mr Bojangles and his cookies tomorrow.