Date: 2015-03-31
From: US 19e road crossing

To: USFS 50 Dennis Cove
Miles today: 24.7

3/31, Kincora Hostel, 24.7, USFS 50 Dennis CoveWhat an incredible day! First, the hostel last night was very nice at Mountain Harbor. I enjoyed music and conversation with Maverick, Beau, Dude, Spooner and Pa Burt and then we all enjoyed breakfast at the main house with Rocket man and Princess among others. The breakfast was a buffet, all we could eat, which is dangerous when hikers are in the room. Nevertheless, we all controlled ourselves fairly well and avoided any incidents. Pa Burt is on a three day plan to make Damascus to spend a weekend with his family. He will cover the 67 miles in three days. More precisely he will do it with a 25, a 30 and a 'short' 22. He is on his third thru hike so he was able to suggest that the trail to Damascus is very hiker friendly, meaning it is a good time to cover miles. Our weather forecast is also for two to three great days for hiking. I tell you all of this because I let Pa and Spooner talk me into attempting the first leg with them, 24.7 miles to Kincora hostel. This hostel is run by a trail maintainer and is one of the cultural icons of the trail. The plan includes a short option at 17 miles which was my original plan for today. I decided I would give it a shot. Complicating matters before the hike was the mysterious disappearance of my best wool shirt. I packed and repacked my clothing bag looking for it when I realized I hadn't seen it at 5am this morning. Retracing its movements I figured I left it in the trail angels car, or it was laying on the ground where he was parked when he picked me up. I did not get his name, but he got my journal login so if he had it, I had some hope I would get it back. If it was in the parking area I hoped it was still there from 6 pm last evening. I started for the trailhead, across from the parking area at 8:50. Kind of late to start a 25 mile hike, but start I did. The day started perfectly when I found my shirt at the parking area. I picked it up, shook off the frost and stuck it in my pack. I was very happy and that happiness put a brisk energy into my step. I hiked keeping pace with Pa Burt for a couple hours. At one point I had stopped and he hiked up from behind me because he had stopped for a privy break. Soon after he showed me the side trail to a large waterfall. I took a couple pictures and we hiked on. Not long after, Pa Burt began to pull ahead, as I expected. He pretty much hikes without stopping while I tend to take a pack off break every one to one and a half hours. I also take a twenty minute lunch break. I hiked alone for a while enjoying the sunshine and birds of Spring. Wildflowers have yet to bloom, but Pa said he expects them by Thursday. Temps today reached 70 degrees, and a slight breeze with the shade kept hiking very comfortable. With 70 degrees I was not surprised when I hiked up on my first snake sunni g himself on the trail. It was a Black Racer about four feet long but very thin. He was just peeking his head out from behind a tree and I happened to be watching the trail as I approached him. These are not dangerous or aggressive snakes so I hiked past, took a couple photos and pressed on.Spooner had set out after us and soon came up behind me singing with his headphones in. We leap frogged each other the rest of the day, and enjoyed a few minutes of lunch tome together. I was not sure I was making good enough time to hike 25 mies, but decision time came at 5 pm. I arrived at Moreland Gap Shelter at 5. Spooner came in a few minutes behind. He was planning to press on to Kincora but I was feeling like I might stop. The shelter was so so, and not really a draw, so I decided to hike on with Spooner. He was kind enough to slow his pace just a touch so we could hike the 7 miles together. It was a moderately easy hike, made difficult by the end of the day tiredness in our legs and feet. We arrived at Kincora at 7:30. I had hiked 24.7 miles in 10.5 hrs. The speed and distance are both personal bests for me. Tomorrow Pa and Spooner are doing 25 to 30 miles. I am going to be very pleased to hike over the mountain between us and the shelter 17.7 miles away. I will share that shelter area with some new hikers who are heading there from here tomorrow. I am trying to time my hike so I can be near a church for Easter Sunday. I could easily do that in Damascus, but that would require taking another zero, since I will likely be there on Friday. I guess we will see how the next few days hike out. I am carrying too much food again. Too much for each day, and too many days. I am also ready to send home a few items of cold weather clothing that I will not be needing. Even though we still have My Rogers to climb over, I am pretty sure I do not need to be prepared any longer for 10 degree overnights. I have a couple of days to decide so we shall see. Silverback