Date: 2007-05-27
From: Gatlinburg, TN

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 15.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I enjoy another continental breakfast at the hotel this morning, replete with bagels, cereal, fruit, and coffee. Coffee is one of the amenities I miss the most; so, I always make sure to get my fill of it while in town!Back at Newfound Gap, the time is nearing 9am, later than I really want to start my day. I'm anxious to do a near 24-mile day today, all the way to Cosby Knob Shelter, just 7.9-miles from Davenport Gap, the Northern boundry of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the Appalachian Trail. After hugs and kisses with the parents, off I go.The terrain for the rest of the National Park, I have been told, is relatively easy, with rare strenuous sections left; those sections are behind me, in the first 40-miles of this section. So far, this proves to be true.Along the way, I meet several day hikers, all of whom are much enthused about the prospect of my thru-hiking. Upon hearing how quickly I've made it to Newfound Gap, one guy around my age says to his lady friend (I assumed they were "together", but later learned otherwise), "He's hauling ass!" This brings a smile to my face, as I have tired of encountering those uber-hikers who like to brag about how many miles they bag on average. I disbelieve most of their stories, equating it to guys in a locker room bragging about supposed penis size. I hike at my pace, at my speed, and carry "enough" weight for myself. That is another thing that annoys me to no end: "self-righteous" hikers who carry a good 10-pounds less than me, stating, "You really need to lighten up your load!" After casual conversation, I learn that most of them eat crap for food while on the Trail. I, for my part, am content to carry 35-pounds after resupply, including food and water! In fact, my packweight is lower than average, even if just by a few pounds! Anyways...Exactly 3-miles from Newfound Gap, I arrive at Icewater Spring Shelter. What a beautiful shelter location! This would the perfect shelter to sleep in, with a beautiful vista from the sleeping platforms in the shelter! I bet the evenings are glorious from here. Since it's still morning, I can vouch for how glorious the morning skies are from this location!Not even a mile more, and I find myself at Charlies Bunion. This is easily the most beautiful section in the Smokies, and ranks right up there with the "beauty spots" south of here: Rocky Top, Thunderhead Mountain, Albert Mountain, Blood Mountain... I've never been farther West than Denver, Colorado, so I can't say this from experience; but, based on reading National Geographic, I think this area looks like California (later in the day, I meet someone from California, who says the same thing).Much of todays hiking is along spineback ridges, with dropoffs on either side, proving to be an exhilirating walk! I can't imagine having to go the bathroom in an area like this, with hardly any opportunities for ample privacy! Nonetheless, the walking is beautiful, almost to an overwhelming point, with vista after vista after vista after vista, it seems.I come to a trail intersection, with a sign stating that Pecks Corner Shelter is .5-miles off Trail. I'm ready for a break, for some food and rest, but am unwilling to walk the .5-miles there then .5-miles back, 1-mile all in all. So, I put my backpack on the ground, pull out some food, and sit on the pack, taking my break right there, at the intersection. After some rest, some stretching, and massaging of sore muscles, I press on, eager to do 23.3-miles today!Near Mount Chapman, another peak in excess of 6,000', I reach into my pocket for my medicine bag---one of several ingredients in the recipe for my homemade first-aid kit---only to find that it's not there! I search my pockets, in vain, and remove my backpack, checking areas where I've stored it in times past, again in vain. This is bad, as I now have no anti-inflammatories, no vitamins, and no immodiumAD! I begin to panic, worrying about my legs, my left knee in particular, and my muscles and joints.Tri-Corner Knob Shelter is one-mile ahead of here, with Cosby Knob 7.7-miles more from there, being my desired destination for the night. Given the strict regulations in the Smokies regarding where one camps, I decide against pushing on for Cosby Knob. What if my knee acts up such where I can't hike anymore that day without some a good nights sleep? If I had my Vitamin I, I would push on without even batting an eyelash! This frustrates me, but I remember the wisdom endowed upon me by Frank, the owner of Cloud 9 Hostel back in Hiawassee: "Listen to your body. Only then can you complete this hike."At the shelter, I meet a number of new faces, and one old face: Josh (Piano Man)! I haven't seen him since Sassafrass Gap Shelter, just North of the NOC. We both burst out laughing, wondering how he got ahead of me as we knew right away that I tend to do more miles on a daily basis than he does! My short day into Newfound Gap and zero in Gatlinburg, we reason, must be the cause! Running into the same people on the Trail is nice, as it helps establish some regularity with those whom you encounter out here, helping establish a rapport of sorts, acquaintence-ship, really, if not actual friendship!Also here are two guys from New York, and a girl and two guys from Tennessee. The only name I remember is the girls, Casey, as we stayed up talking until after midnight! Not a good idea for my hiking long-distance, whereas she's only planning to hike to the next shelter, Cosby Knob (where I'm supposed to be bedding for the night!). Casey, upon hearing about my losing my medicine, gives me some Excedrin. I've never taken it before, and I still don't exactly what symptoms it's supposed to treat, but I gladly accept this odd Trail Magic!After conversing for hours about a plethora of different subjects/topics, Ipass out, welcoming sleep, inviting it to consume me.