Date: 2005-06-15
From: Ivy Creek Overlook

To: Lewis Mtn Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

We were getting packed up at Loft Mtn campground when a campground nazi pulled up in his golf cart and started giving us hell about having our food sitting on the table in the site next to us. He was really rude and said that we were the reason that the national parks were shutting down. We tried to explain that we were sitting the food there out of the sun while we got it all packed up but listening was not one of his strong points and he just kept on. I could not believe how rude he was. We were not doing anything wrong at the time and were not trying to take advantage of anybody but he did not want to hear it.AFTER OUR EXPERIENCE AT LOFT MOUNTAIN CAMPGROUND WE WILL NOT BE RETURNING THERE.   We picked up where we left off yesterday at Ivy Creek Overlook. One of the ladies from Florida dropped us off. We were slack packing again today so we planned on doing 22 miles all the way to Lewis mtn Campground where dad was going to go and get us a site. Squid and I took off ahead of the rest of the crew. Pikers knee was still bothering him so he was going to take it easy all day and see how he was. The first section was fairly easy and the two of us made it to Simmons Gap in about an hour. We were taking a short break there having a snack when a car pulled up and out came Piker and Mileage. They had made it about 1.8 miles but his knee was hurting to bad to continue so they were going to hitch to the campground and meet up with dad. While we were there Moose rolled in. We all decided to continue according to plan and just let Piker and Mileage catch up when his knee felt better. Even though we were slack packing the trail got a little tougher than the trail had been so far in the SNP. We were really hoping to see a bear since it seemed as though Squid and I were the only people in the whole park that had not seen one yet. We stopped on an overlook around Little round top Mtn for a break and to wait up for Moose and I realized that I had not brought any eating utensil to eat my ramen. Squid suggested that I carve out some chopsticks. I figured that was what I was going to do if I wanted to eat. When moose showed up he had a spork so my problem was solved. I guess that is a risk you take when you do not carry your whole pack. We decided to eat lunch at Hightop Hut so that would split up the largest climb of the day. We got there and had to hear everyone¢s stories of bear sighting while we kept our mouths shut since we had none. Moose caught up and the three of us had lunch together. We relaxed for about an hour then headed out for the last 11 miles of the day. At the top of hightop Mtn we ran into a nice couple at an overlook from DC. We talked to them for a few minutes telling them about thru hiking and trying to convince them that it is not what it seems and that it is much more fun. It was about this point that we were all starting to wear down. We started to take breaks more frequently and knew that we would be pushing it to get to camp before dark so we knew that we needed to keep moving. We passed the 900 mile mark about 1.5 miles before the campground and we celebrated with peach tea and beef jerky. We made it to camp before dark but with no bear stories to tell.