Date: 2021-08-25
From: Boots Off Hostel

To: Moreland Gap Shelter
Miles today: 14.75
Weather: few clouds

After yesterday¢s zero, we lingered a bit this morning at Boots Off in order to say ¢adios¢ to Lois, Clark, Polaroid and Goldbond and to get a picture with them before we all headed out. They had just one more day on their section hike before returning to their respective homes in California and Rhode Island.  It was a blast meeting them and shooting the breeze, it¢s great to see friends like that out enjoying the outdoors. We left the hostel at 7:30 and immediately started the climb to the summit of Pond Mountain, which must have been Iceberg¢s favorite place on the trail because he mentioned it more than any other.  I¢ve heard some cynics describe the AT as a series of PUD¢s (pointless ups and downs) and Pond Mountain has the reputation of being the PUDIEST PUD of them all. The old AT was a one mile road walk through here. The Pond Mountain reroute goes up and down 1600 feet in six miles and ends up at the sand spot as the old AT. Ah well. The trail is the trail. (Though I didn¢t mind Pond Mountain at all, well except there is no pond at the top and no view either)Anyway. With that climb behind us we started the longer climb along Laurel Creek that would take us up to 4000 feet. Along the way we saw Laurel Falls - which was awesome. One of the prettier waterfalls you¢ll see with a wide cascade down into a deep pool. We took some pics there and then climbed the 300-some stone steps up and away from the creek.  On the way out we met a couple from Iowa who had a bucket-list item of hiking a part of the AT in all 14 states it traverses. I thought that was a pretty cool idea. I may steal it. Our next milepost on the day was a .3 road walk to the Kincora Hostel owned by Bob Peoples. Bob is a legendary trail builder in this area and he¢s known for good switchbacks and clear tread way. I¢m a fan. Unfortunately, Bob wasn¢t at home when we arrived. We did talk with a hiker named Lion who was just leaving the hostel. Lion had spent the last 12 years living in monasteries in India and Nepal and is something of a guru now, hiking around the AT as he waits for Covid to domino. People do lead interesting lives.  We had our sights set on the Moreland Gap shelter where we would decide how much to hike for the day. About two o¢clock, clouds began to build and we could head thunder as well. Twice I saw lightning and based on the resultant thunder, figured the storm was two miles away. It hit with heavy rain when I was about 10 minutes from the shelter, so I got a bit of a soaking. We waited out the rain for half an hour, finally deciding to call it a day here and leave an 18 mile hike for tomorrow. Sadly, the frame on my backpack failed today. I felt the metal support jamming into my hip. On closed examination, it looks like the frame piece has worn through the fabric and will no longer stay in. I tried to sew up the hole, but the material proved too strong for my now broken needle. Not sure yet what I¢m going to do. I don¢t think my shoulders are going to enjoy 400 miles of a frameless pack. I¢ll probably contact Zpacks tomorrow, though I¢m not sure they¢ll do anything  after 1400 miles of hiking with this replacement pack after my first one broke. We shall see. This¢ll be fine  Tomorrow will bring us to the Mountain Harbor Hostel where Quiksilver has a package waiting.  Have a great night!