Date: 2003-06-05
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: Groundhog Creek Shelter
Miles today: 9.6
Weather: few clouds

I¢m so glad I¢m out here. We (Hal, Anne and I) just spent an hour or so sitting around a campfire built by Chris, Willie and Ben. I met Chris (with Carlton) the first and second night I was out. I met Willie the second week I was out (he bought me tortillas in Hiawassee and brought them to Plumorchard Shelter). They hooked up about a week ago, Ben awhile before that. These guys are hilarious. All in their mid to late twenties, I¢d estimate. Hiking only 8-11 miles a day, these guys take side trails, explore beyond trails, stop for lunch, and ¢ most importantly ¢ gather armloads of firewood as soon as they get to camp and build a huge fire every night.As we sat there, about 30 yards below the shelter, we heard a crash coming from the direction of the shelter. Soon a young redhead with an Aussie accent appeared ¢ wearing a sarong! ¢ and wondering where the water was. We pointed her in the right direction, and after more noise, she came and joined our circle.A southbounder, Walkabout (or Genevieve) is the life of any party. She is walking 20 miles a day just now, but just came from Trail Days in Damascus. From her stories, she is clearly out here to experience all she can.I am struck by how different each of our experiences is. This is what I make of it. I am so glad I¢m here. Now the question is: do I want to FINISH or do I want to ENJOY? Ideally I¢d like to FINISH and ENJOY, but if it comes down to choosing between the two, I think ENJOYING is more important.More about today. I was up early, ate some leftover pizza for breakfast (the best!) and puttered around until about 9:30 when Anne, Joe, Ben and Toby and I had Curtis shuttle us back to Davenport Gap to walk the 2.5 miles we¢d missed yesterday. (Toby is a thru-hiker that started in April, injured his knee, and just came back to start again.) I left the clothes I hadn¢t washed with Hal to do in his load. Unfortunately, the spin cycle malfunctioned and he had to wring them out as best he could and then toss them in the dryer. It took about two hours for them to dry, and when I checked on them they did not smell clean¢¦ Bummer. Now my hiking clothes smell better than my ¢clean¢ clothes! Oh well, Hot Springs is only a couple of days away.I tried to call Chad many times and never got him, and as the time ticked by I wasn¢t sure I¢d make Hot springs by today after all so I left him a message just canceling our plans. I felt bad I didn¢t get to talk to him.Due to the laundry, Hal and I didn¢t get started until 1 pm. Again, I think I was slow to take on the challenging climb I knew was ahead. It was challenging too.Hiking with someone is great, if you¢re the same pace. If not, it basically kind of sucks. The competition in me flared up again, and I am simply no match for Hal, the Uphill Machine! It wears on my spirits.It¢s amazing what a long climb like that does to my mind. All my doubts about being out here flooded my mind. Am I just being selfish spending this money on something that only benefits me? Is it all just a waste of time?Then I reached the top of Snowbird Mountain, where a near bald provides for a long stretch of openness in the bright sunshine. Hal and Anne, who had started out an hour or so before us, were ahead, and the doubts were gone.We walked most of the rest of the way together, Anne and I discussing our favorite movies, actors, and various other light topics. I was tempted to push on when we reached the shelter at only 4 pm, but my feet were tired, I sat down, and the pull of pleasant company won out. I wasn¢t sorry.