Date: 2005-04-13
From: Campsite 0.5 Mile North Of Laurel Fork

To: Kincora Hiker Hostel
Miles today: 12.7
Weather: light rain

Miles hiked today : 12.710.9 AT miles + 1.8 miles of side trailI woke up this morning at 7:20 a.m. and was on the trail by 8:05 a.m. It had rained while I slept, so I had to pack up a wet tent. Fortunately, there was no more rain during my hike today other than light sprinkles.My knee was still bothering me this morning and I felt like I was moving slowly, though I arrived at Moreland Gap Shelter at 10:30 a.m. I took a 15 minute break before continuing on.There weren't many landmarks to watch for today, so I wasn't sure where I was much of the day. I had planned to arrive at the side trail to Coon Den Falls at 1:15 p.m., so when I actually arrived at 12:40 p.m., I was pleasantly surprised.I enjoy waterfalls, so I took the 1.6 mile round trip to see Coon Den Falls. Talk about an obstacle course! The first obstacle was to pass under a blow down. The way I normally go under blow downs is to hold on to part of the trunk and swing my body under. Well, that didn't work this time, as the blow down shifted downward under my weight and I found myself lying on my back. I count this as a fall, so...cha-ching, fall #9. Other obstacles included some sketchy mossy rock scrambles on cliff edges and a huge overgrown rhodedendron bush that didn't want to let me through with my pack on. I successfully navigated each of the obstacles and reached the falls at 1:20 p.m. After hearing the falls for 30 minutes while descending, I thought it would be huge. I was surprised to see it was only 30 feet tall and combined with the 460 foot descent from the AT, I can't say it was worth the trip. Although I certainly would have regretted bypassing it, because I wouldn't have known how small or large it was.I made it back to the AT at 1:50 p.m. and had only 1.9 miles to Kincora's Hiker Hostel, run by Bob and Pat Peoples. Right before Dennis Cove Road, there was the remnants of an old homestead next to a pond. I snapped a couple photographs and continued on, arriving at 2:45 p.m. only to find out that out of 24 beds in the hostel, none were available. I set my gear down, laid claim to a floor space, and took a long shower before starting a load of laundry.I cooked lunch on an actual stove, which was quite different than my alcohol stove. After lunch, I began composing this journal entry and was soon informed that there was a bed available for me after all. Yes! It turns out that the hiker in the bed next to mine had his gear strewn about, creating the illusion that my bed was taken. I moved my sleeping bag onto my bed and returned to my journal.Moments later, Bob came into the hostel and asked whether anybody needed to go to the grocery store. I went along and bought my usual items such as cheese and pop-tarts, but also bought ice cream, chocolate milk, orange juice, root beer, hot dogs, yogurt, and a bunch of fresh fruit. The chocolate milk didn't last longer than 2 minutes outside of the store and I ate the ice cream upon returning to the hostel. I'll eat the yogurt and a good deal of the fruit for breakfast. I grilled the hot dogs on a propane stove and while I ate, I enjoyed listening to stories from Bob, who is quite amusing. I learned that "Kincora" is Celtic for "kinship of the heart." Bob also told me about the homestead I'd seen earlier. It was actually a chicken coop and is now inhabited by 7 foot rat snakes. I'm certainly glad that I didn't go inside of it.I'm planning a short day tomorrow to help rest my knee. The campsite at Pond Flats is only 5.9 miles away, which means I wouldn't have to leave until 4 p.m. That sounds lovely.Bedtime at 10:00 p.m.