Date: 2009-04-29
From: Newfound Gap

To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I'm in the midst of a glorious down day. Moonlight, 2-Bob and I are staying with the inestimable Don and Tammy Porter (Don, in a previous life, was Moonlights principal when he taught Middle School.) They picked us up at the Starlight Hotel about 9:30 a.m., and proceeded to drive us around the Cherokee area. We went by Sylva and visited an outfitter to get some equipment, the most important things being AquaMira water treatment, alcohol for my stove, and dried, dehydrated food. Over to WallMart to get the fixings for trail mix and some other food. Then we went over to Western Carolina University to see the Museum of Appalachian Mountain Culture. It's smallish, but has some interesting displays regarding the great migration of the Scotts-Irish. Don then drove us to Judicalla Rock, a piece of soapstone perhaps 10 ft by 10 feet, with ancient hydroglyphics. Cherokee legend says there was a terrible giant that leaped across the valley, and that the rock was where the giant landed. Another legend says that it signified a peace agreement between the Cherokee and the Catawba Tribes. Local scientists say the hydroglyphs long predate the Cherokee, and are the remnants of a much earlier, unknown tribe.Returning to the Porter's house, Don took us to his local health club, where we took a long sauna, jumped in the hot tub, and wondered what those hikers who went to Gatlinburg, to poor fools, were doing. Shouldn't be too harsh however, since the only reason I had such a wonderful day is because my hiking partner has a friend living nearby who in incredibly gracious.With my day off, I'm taking stock of myself physically. All in all, I'm feeling better than I have any right to feel. I have no major injuries. My sinuses, which have been clogged since childhood, have largely cleared. I'm now breathing through my nose when I hike on straightaways and downhills -- something I've never been able to do before. My legs are horribly bug bitten, but my blisters have largely healed. I have a pinched nerve in my right foot, between my 3rd and 4th toes, that has bothered me since the second or third day. Not wearing boots today, and indeed not wearing shoes, my toes are still numb, but it's not hugely painful nor is it debilitating. I have trouble standing up straight, and my walk is more a shuffle than a stride, but that's common to all hikers. I'm still worried about losing weight too fast. I'd like to lose another 40 lbs., but not immediately. I'm also worried about how I'll handle the heat. Thus far, the weather has been accommodating (notwithstanding the sleet, hail, and snow). But when the temps go up, hiking will be more stressful. All this said, I don't feel bad.I got bad news today. Bluto, a hiking companion that I met the first day right after Springer Mtn., has injured his foot and gone to Tennessee for medical treatment. Bluto is in his early 30s and is my size. He hikes downhill very, very fast, and I'm worried that the pounding may have taken too much of a toll. I've not talked to him, so I don't know any more details. But more of the original tribe seem to be getting hurt. Tomorrow morning we go back to finish the rest of the Smokey Mountains. I hate the thought of leaving the Porter's house, but the AT is calling.