Date: 2016-05-17
From: over mountian shelter

To: camp site
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: light rain

Day 36- May 17, 2016Dregs here, Last night we went to bed with at least 20 hikers spread out all over the top floor of the Over Mountain Shelter. At the very last moment before bed a hiker came up to me as I lay in my sleeping bag and asked if she could set up next to me. I said absolutely and heard a friendly reply "Dregs is that you?" It was Kate from the smokies and hot springs! I felt bad for her because of her late arrival knowing I would rise at 6am.The morning was cold and we could hear rain falling gently on the tin roof of the old barn. We packed up as quickly and quietly as we could. Everyone was sleeping upstairs where it was warm so I whispered to Chicken Hawk that we should move our stuff downstairs before packing up. She nodded in agreement seeing that it would be really considerate to all of the nice still slumbering people. She then almost immediately dropped her food bag containing a backpacking cook set (like a pot wit a fuel canister inside). I could barely contain my laughter so I hurried the rest of the way down the precariously steep ladder. This shelter had a privy (moldering toilet) but it was small, the front was open, and there was no roof. I was excited to use it because there are none in Tennessee and this would be our last day along the NC TN border. I had the unique experience of sitting on a toilet while getting rained on. It was much overshadowed by the strangeness of a couple of hikers who had set up their hammocks with a view of the open front of the privy. They were presumably asleep and I really wasn't too concerned with the alternative however Chicken Hawk was a bit more bothered by it. I was chatty as usual this morning and we didn't head out until about 735. The rain soft but unmistakably present. We left the shelter and immediately began a steep climb up to an open bald. These balds are treeless mountain sides or summits that usually offer excellent views or at least the novelty of not being chokingly surrounded by trees and underbrush. On cold rainy windy days they offer self doubt and paranoia about hypothermia. Today wasn't so bad, it was not scary cold but we were hit with sideways rain as the wind fought to add itself to the list of delightful challenges we faced this morning. The trail ducked back into the trees but we knew there was at least another small bald that was visible from the shelter. We ascended another 500 feet and it got a little colder as the next bald came in sightn.The first bald was called Little Hump Mountain. The next hour or so was spent traversing Hump mountain. It was breath taking in more ways than one. It was cold, wet, slippery, and extremely windy. But so perfect and awe inspiring. We went up the first peak and saw down across a valley up a much higher peak. The clouds and fog obscured some things but not the brown line of muddy trail snaking its way up over the highest summit on hump mountain. The trail cuts back into the woods and for a second it seemed like we weren't headed for the daunting climb. The trail looped back around and we began our ascent. The climbs aren't as tough as they used to be, up is only slightly harder than flat these days. It's still more work to climb a mountain but much smaller climbs used to tire is out and require breaks or a super slow pace. We just walked up and up. We believe our trail legs are beginning to truly set in. We reached the summit of the tall bald mountain and saw that it continued up just as far as we had already come. It's truly amazing how much mountain can hide behind a false summit. With every step the wind, cold and austere beauty increased. The clouds formed pools in the valleys and were swept up at the edges where the wind whisked them away. We headed down and back into the trees for a 4 mile descent into resupply point. On the descent I was so caught up in reliving the majesty of the mornings scenery I had my first real fall. Slippery roots....It hurt but there was no damage.Our resupply was at the general store of Bed and Breakfast/ Hostel called Mountain Harbor. It was 0.3 down a busy road to get there. We had to wait for them to open the store but we met a few new hikers on the porch. Phase one of the plan was completed when they opened up and we got 2 days of food. Phase 2 was too hitch hike 3.6 miles to a restaurant named Bobs Dairyland. It was recommended by a local who was section hiking and stayed at the shelter last night. Kate showed up and we invited her to lunch. We walked to the road and Chicken Hawk stuck out the magic thumb and after 3 cars a white pick up stopped and we were on our way. The nice man left us in the parking lot of our lunch spot and we headed in. Some hungry looking locals walked in behind us and I asked him for his recommendation. With desire in his eyes he said "The club sandwich is the best thing on the menu" When it was our turn Chicken Hawk and I confidently ordered 2 club sandwich combos. My mouth is literally watering as I write this. They were as advertised. Afterwards we needed milkshakes to recover our senses.The hitch back took longer but a young guy in a nice SUV picked the 3 of us up and delivered us to the trail. Kate headed back to the hostel and we headed up the trail. Phase 3 was to find a spot not at a shelter a few miles in and have a quiet night hopefully before the rain started back up. I am happy to report all 3 phases were successful. Today was a good day. More rain in the forecast for tomorrow but we just may stay optimistic anyhow.