Date: 2010-05-18
From: War Spur shelter 

To: Sarver Hollow Sjelter
Miles today: 12.5
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 72Last nights fire reflecting off the inside of the shelter was very nice to drift off to sleep to. In the morppaning it was still overcast and cool. I stayed in my sleeping bag till almost 9am, but was getting my stuff together when a group that had camped 4 miles back rolled into the shelter. There were 3 girls and a guy. A very odd dynamic out here but one most of us would recognize from high school. Dang early risers caught me still in my bag. The very first challenge of the morning was a creek crossing over some narrow and very slick logs. I made it across but I could have easily slipped off. Thin mint was next and looked very nervous so I moved to the edge of the creek leaned against s tree and held my hand out as far as I could reach to help her across. She seemed grateful And her step grew more confidant after she had a handhold. Behind her was a young girl who had arrived while I was still in my sleeping bag. She also looked very nervous so I helped her too. Which was a good thing because she did slip and nearly pulled us both in before I steadied her. Later I heard that one person had slipped in and others had gotten their feet wet trying to ford in other locations. After making a very big climb I found internet service as I crossed a ridgeline. I updated my journal entries from the past two days. I had a phone signal for the first time in days but since my wife was working and my kids were in school there wasnt anyone I could call. I moved on to the next shelter and caught up with everyone that had passed me while I was updating. There were several tents hanging up to dry, which is another reason I love sleeping in shelters. My tent doesn't get wet and gain weight.The early riser group was talking about the "Blair Witch" house coming up. I had read about it in a shelter register And a southbounder also told me it was an abandoned house near the trail. The early risers were talking abiut sleeping there and hoped it was haunted. Thin mint and I were the first out of the shelter and when we got to the house it turned out to be cooler than I expected. Of course all the glass was gone from the windows on one side of the roof had collapsed, rotting away that side, but the other half was intact and still pretty solid. Someone gad out hand prints all over the place just like the Blair house. We went inside with our oacks and up the stairs. To find a smooth clean solid floor as nice as any shelter. Me being me, I decided to stick around and haunt the place. Thin mint decided to join me so we sat down and waited for our first victims. Seeker and Rich came by first. They circled the building but didn't come in so we didnt get to use our brilliantly designed haunting plan. Instead, as they were walking away, in my deepest, spookiest voice, I said "Get Out!" from the upstairs window. I wont say they were scared, but they whipped around pretty darn fast.Next came the early risers. They too walked around the building at first, and then the guy came in. The haunting plan was in action... we stomped on the floor and I through a couple sticks so they would bounce down the stairs. The guy came up the stairs laughing and said that yes we did give him a scare. So I feel my time was well spent since we were able to give him the haunted house he was looking for. The rest of today's hike had other abandoned buildings, a very steep and long climb, a lot of strange carnes and piles of rocks. We also passed the Keffer Oak, the largest Oak tree on the AT inthe south. It measures 18' in diameter at the base. It was big, but I think the Oak tree back home in Wilmington may be bigger. I didn't stay very long at any of these sites because the rain had moved in. It wasn't bad since it was warm out. I didn't bother with rain gear. When I reached the cut off for the Sarver Hollow Shelter I could see it was going to be down a very steep 1/2 mile long trail. It was raining pretty hard now so I didn't even hesitate. Down I went cursing the morons who would put a shelter down in this pit. I changed my tune once I saw how awesome the shelter is. Its huge. The sleeping area will easily sleep 8 and 10 wouldn't even feel crowded, but there is a huge overhang over an additional wooden platform that contains a very dry picnic table. Quite a few more people could sleep out there if necessary. Thin mint and I are sort of going slow waiting for some people behind us to catch up. I thought Kashmir and Greendog would be here by now and creepy shouldn't be far behind. None of the people in the shelter tonight have seen any of them. Not sure how far I will go tomorrow. There is a shelter at 16 miles but its 0.4 miles off the trail and I hate going off the trail. I may be tenting tomorrow unless the rain returns.Good night and sweet dreams to all of you out there not living the Wet Haunting Dream.