Date: 2008-03-31
From: Hampton, TN

To: Iron Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at 8a to the sound of everybody rolling around on their mattresses...this is a nice place to stay, but those mats are VERY loud! As we all woke up, the [probably still drunk] Lonewolf told us a story: A man in Elizabethton, TN tried to steal a forklift and accidently cut his toes off. Well, he went to the ER and told the staff that his toes were run over by a car. When the cops arrived at the crime scene and found the toes, they immediately searched all hospitals for a person who checked in with foot injuries. They found him and arrested him. I'm not sure of this story's relevance, but Lonewolf thought it was important enough to share with us!! After packing up, Toddy Bear, Stovie and I went to the Copper Kettle while Fester went to the Internet Cafe. I ate 2 biscuits, eggs--over easy--, and hashbrowns. I ate the biscuits with Apple Butter and mixed the eggs and hashbrowns together with ketchup...this was the beginning of my new "Town Breakfast!" Then, we walked back to the cafe and got Fester. When we got back to the Braemar Castle, we convinced Sutton Brown to drive us back to the trail. Stovie, Toddy Bear, and I rode in the back of the truck while Fester and Sutton rode inside. We reached the trail and started walking north. We followed the "shoreline" of Watauga Lake. This place has a lot of nice areas to camp at and I would like to come back here with some of my buddies when I get off the trail because of the beauty!!! Once we crossed the "butt" of the dam, we walked a bit further and then ate lunch. After that, we continued our climb to Vandventer Shelter--Lonewolf and Sutton warned us that the climbs up there would be rough. Man, I felt like I was leaving Bly Gap again. That climb was vicious...it was the longest 4.4 miles ever and all uphill like the backside of Roan Mnt./"Welcome to NC Mnt." We eventually reached the shelted and stopped for a water break. Well, most of us were really low--I had 0.5L, Toddy Bear and Stovie had 0.25L, and Fester was completely out. I gave Fester half of my water and we all drank our 0.25L. Oh! The sun was "BEATING" down on us during our accent and we were VERY thirsty. So, doing the "typical" hiker move, we opted to hike another 3.8 miles to a spring further north on the AT than go down the VERY STEEP 0.3 mile side trail infront of the shelter to the water source. On our walk there, we encountered a "dick move." Appearantly, this is a term which Stovie and Fester use to describe when the trail goes up a hill/mountain, drops you all the way back down to the bottom, only to take you back up to the top!!!! When we made it to the spring, it was dripping VERY slowly from the pipe. I gathered 1L in my bottle and my Platy. I treated one but not the other because I was Sooooooooo thirsty. I only drank the bottle and left the platy for the next 2.8 miles. We pulled out and Stovie and Fester "jetted" out. Toddy Bear was a bit ahead of me and I was bringing up the rear. I eventually caught him when he was donning rain gear. By this point, we only had 1.6 miles left and took our time walking to the shelter and got to know each other a little bit better through conversation. Before we knew it, we had reached the water source and saw Stovie...Fester had walked a little farther down to see if the source was any better. Toddy Bear and I moved the pipe and got a good flow going. As we reached the shelter, we were greeted by two Thru-Hikers named Pick and Yeti. I dropped my gear off and went back to the water source to collect some H2O. I took my bandana down because Yeti informed us that there was Iron and swimming creatures in the water. Upon my return, I began cooking. In typical Team Deustchmark style, we began eating and laughing about many things. Some of them included: 1. Shower Cap Boy's many uses for his cap--it's now a water filter, hat, toilet paper, air filter, and a condom! 2. We decided to give Matthew Borner his unofficial trail name--the guy who Night Terror almost got in a "fight" with in Hot Springs--it's Rataporn Boobthachati!!! and 3. Fester showed us his patented "Fart Kick." As we bedded down, I got Pick gave us an idea: Carry pool floaties--sized up for a child's arm--and inflate it at night to use as a pillow! The weather was approximately 65*F today and I dangerously danced with the early signs of dehydration yet again! Also, I felt like quitting the trail today while we were climbing Vandventer. That climb was awfully steep, long, and I was out of water. Had it not been for the Team, I probably would have called someone to drive from Johnson City and pick me up. Thanks for being there guys...they don't realize it, but just being around and not deserting me did more for my morale than they will ever know!!!!! This has taught me the importance of having people around/involved in ones life! Also, while I was gathering water, Yeti and I were chatting and I learned a little bit about him: He is a Mechanical Engineer from Flint, MI, he attended Kettering University, is a Delta Chi, and decided to hike the trail in order to escape the constraints/BS of "the real world." Oh well, we've all got our different reasons for hiking and it's interesting to get someone else's perspective. Also, I don't think Yeti enjoys our company as much as Pick does...based on how little he's talking to us!!! Oh well, NIGHT!