Date: 2005-10-17
From: 3 miles s of Little Laurel Shelter, Tn.

To: Hot Springs, NC
Miles today: 16.6
Weather: clear sky

16.6 miles todayDucket House B&BHot Springs, NCIt was nice and cool again last night...probably in the mid 40's. I slept well and woke up at 6:20am. I made my coffee and had one fried pie and a six pack....of mini donuts for breakfast. :-)))I was packed and walking at 7:25. It was just light enough to see without my headlamp. The days are getting much shorter all the time. I remember when I started this hike in Maine, the sun would rise about 4:30...that was nice.I walked down to one gap, then up and over a bump before heading down to Allen Gap. I like it there because there are garbage cans and I had plenty to get rid of.It sounds funny, but the next gap was about a 1000 foot climb. That one is called Deep Gap.On the way up there, I saw a guy coming towards me on the trail with four nice hounds on leashes. He had a two way radio on and was carrying a high powered rifle on a sling. I figured he was squirrel hunting. :-)))I stopped by Spring Mountain Shelter just long enough to sign the register, then walked on.I was really enjoying the morning and thinking how much nicer it is in the woods when there aren't any bugs trying to make a meal out of you.I heard more dogs and when I got close, I saw 3 guys and one girl with a mess of dogs. There were dogs everywhere. They were tied off in three's and there were about 7 or eight bunches of them, all separated by about 20 feet.The older guy had a two way radio and was probably just waiting until that guy I saw earlier today to call back on the radio that his hounds had a squirrel treed. :-)))Poor squirrels wouldn't have a chance with close to thirty hounds after them.I hiked on down to Hurricane Gap before climbing about 600 feet up to Rich Mountain. On my way down to Tanyard Gap, I ran into a Carolina trail maintainer by the name of Big Smoky.We talked for a while and he told me how proud he was of this section of trail he's taking care of.I hiked on and after reaching Tanyard Gap, I climbed up to Mill's Ridge, then started my last descent into Hot Springs, NC.I ran into Big Smoky again who had driven over to the trailhead at Hot Springs and was checking it out.I told him that everything looked good between there and where I saw him this morning. I guess he took my word for it because he headed back to his car and left.I crossed the French Broad River and entered Hot Springs.I checked my email to see if I was in any trouble, but everything was OK for now. :-))) I stopped by the outfitter just to say hello, then headed down to the Smoky Mountain Diner and ate their special for the day...roast beef and gravy with mashed potatos and peas.When I was done eating, I walked up to the Ducket House B&B to see about staying there. They give hikers a very good rate and it's one place in Hot Springs that I hadn't stayed at before.They had alot of people due in today, but he gave me room #4 and said it would be a while before it was ready.Since I had some extra time, I dropped off my backpack and walked back to the Smoky Mountain Diner and had my second lunch...a crispy chicken salad...a large crispy chicken salad. :-)))After the second lunch, I walked back to the outfitter and used their computer and resupplied with enough food to get me to Davenport Gap which is the north end of the Smoky Mountains.I walked back to the B&B and took a shower and washed my clothes, then I walked back to the Smoky Mountain Diner and had dinner...a very good half pound hamburger and fries.I saw the waitress walk by with pie and ice cream for someone else. When she came back, I told her I wanted pie and ice cream that looked just like that for me.I sent in a few emails and headed back to the B&B for the night.I'm sitting here snacking on popcorn while I'm writing this journal entry.Dang if the ol' hiker hunger hasn't finally kicked in and in a big way.I called a friend that lives near here and he's picking me up Wednesday at 3pm at Davenport Gap. That's only about 35 miles from here, so I'll have an easy two day walk. I might spend Tuesday night on the summit of Max Patch if I can get out of Hot Springs in time to walk the 20 miles to there.I'll spend Wednesday night at Dick and Charlene's house and get Dick to drop me back off on the trail the next morning after I resupply for the Smoky Mountains.I was thinking alot today about how this hike is almost over. If everything goes well, I'll be done in 14 days...or less. Wow, what a bad time for that hiker hunger to kick in.