Mollie's Ridge Shelter

30 April 2006, Sunday ~ 11.5 miles

Started at Fontana Dam, and to be honest, I lost the trail and did a lot of extra stomping around. I have no idea how I missed the blaze to cross the dam, but there it is.

This is a huge shelter, and the hiker zoo chain-link has been removed. The bear cables are a snap to use -- much better than the pole/hoist system they use in Shenandoah National Park. There are six of us here, and the only thru-hiker is Ranger Rick.

I got sleeted on today. Twice. It's now raining and blowing like crazy. There is a hearth in here, and some sectioners from NC built a fire. Someone left a huge tarp here that's covering the entrance. That really helps with the wind, but it kind of sucks not to be able to see out at all.

Bedtime for me.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

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Derrick Knob Shelter

1 May 2006, Monday ~ 11.7 miles

Very tough day again. I could have gone a few more miles, but the Smokies require that you stay at a shelter, so I couldn't just eat dinner and go on to a dry camp, as I usually would.

I'm here with 2 people from Mollie's, Duck Soup and Ranger Rick. Two thru-hikers are here too: Wild Poodle and Muddy Shoes. I've already seen a mouse here, damn it.

My choices for tomorrow all suck. The shelter a reasonable distance is 1/2 mile off the trail, and I hate that shit. I always get there and push on to *something* else*.

The weather today was splendid and the views were outstanding. Took a nap on a break on Rocky Top -- the sunshine was soooo nice. That's the Rocky Top of legend, BTW.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Gatlinburg, TN (Newfound Gap)

2 May 2006, Tuesday ~ 18.2 miles

It was a tough 18.2, but it was totally worth it. I'm now back on schedule, and I'm in a hotel room, clean and fed.

Gatlinburg is an odd place. We have friendly locals, goths (who may also be local) and Russians. The bartender at No Way Jose's was a pretty but grumpy Russian. Mexican restaurant, Russian bartender.

Clingman's Dome wasn't too bad of a climb. It was when I found myself climbing again after descending off *that* that I got annoyed. Presumably, that was Mt. Love.

My ride in to town was four retired guys who knew each other form college. After college, they were all in Vietnam but in different branches of the Armed Forces

I'll be heading for Tri-Corner tomorrow, though it's kind of a long slog.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Tri-Corner Knob Shelter

3 May 2006, Wednesday ~ 15.6 miles

I either had to take a shuttle at 12:30 for $7 or arrange one earlier for $40, so I got a late start. I burned up the trail today, and man are my dogs barkin', as the saying goes.

Here I am in a shelter again. There is just nowhere to tent in the park. It's not full, at least.

Beautiful Day today and some very nice views. I got a few bug bites through my pants, which is pretty annoying. Black flies maybe? There were horse flies and black flies all over the place.

Saw two guys on horses, one leading another horse and one leading a burro. Here are Pacer, Diesel, Puff, Can-Man, J-Man, Roni and two sectioners

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Standing Bear Farm/Davenport Gap

4 May 2006, Thursday ~ 18.1 miles

Great place Curtis has here. I really thought today was 16 miles and was very surprised to find I'd done just over 18. I must have mis-read the map yesterday. Curtis put me in the little cabin, which is just awesome.

I got poured on today. I guess I couldn't get out of the Smokies without that!

There are a bunch of thrus here: Big-X, Roni, J-Man, Fireman (Puff), Can-Man and Mr. Blister. I will be eating a pizza. Mmmm pizza, and Curtis will take us to get beer. Sounds like a good night ahead!

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Roaring Fork Shelter

5 May 2006, Friday ~ 15.4 miles

Max Patch was totally fogged in, misting and fucking freezing. I got rained on for six hours, but once you're wet, you are wet, so why not go on? It's warmer than sitting around anyway.

It was a pretty challenging day, but not because of the rain. There was a lot of climbing. Tomorrow will be easier, and I'm heading for Hot Springs.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Hot Springs, NC

6 May 2006, Saturday ~ 15 miles

I'm staying at the Sunnybank Inn and sharing a room with the Librarian (a thru-hiker). She really is carrying a pile of books.

When I first got here, Elmer sent me up to the attic over the utility room hanging off the back of the house and said dinner was sold out. Then, two people left for the Alpine Motel, as they didn't really like the Sunnybank. So, I will be having the legendary food, dinner and breakfast.

This place is very nice, and if I needed something to read (I don't), I'd be all set -- there are books everywhere. Elmer is very nice and it's worth the pittance he gets from hikers, but I kind of understand why those women left. It's very...hippie in here. It's very B&B, and there's a reason I don't stay at B&Bs. I always feel an eensy bit tense and out of place.

--

I had a hard time keeping a straight face during the dinner discussion. It was all "what kind of plant would you be" and their guest (a wild foraging teacher) was going on about how stimulating it is for the brain to eat raw stinging nettles. Um, OK.

I'm going home tomorrow. I did something to my foot, and I won't be able to hike on it for days, probably, and something came up at home anyway. I will have to hit the Hot Springs to Erwin section in 2007.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Erwin, TN to Indian Grave Gap

30 April 2005, Saturday ~ 8.8 miles

Camped in kind of a crappy spot, but it's raining and it was 7:30pm when I stopped. I just didn't want to push my luck. Setting up the tarp in the rain is a bitch and in the dark also a bitch, so both. I've also got it pitched too low, but it is drier that way.

Stopped at Curly Maple Shelter for dinner around 5pm. Peanut and crew were there. Thrifty was deciding - he probably stayed. Sparks and Spicy Thigh slacked through.

I probably should have stayed, but it was so early.

I'm probably too close to the forest road here, but I can't hear anything over there. I'm near the trail with the tarp facing away.

Had a free Coke today, and I've got the crumpled can to prove it. No trashcan since I drank it.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Greasy Creek Gap

1 May 2005, Sunday ~ 14.5 miles

Today was a roller coaster and it really felt more like 16 or 17. I'm beyond where I wanted to be tonight anyway, so it's ok that it's under 15, I guess. Also, the tarp is still wet, and it will freeze tonight for sure. I'll probably still just do 14ish tomorrow to Overmountain Shelter (big red barn) Since I hope to go over Roan Mt. (6285 feet)

Weird thing with the blazes here -- some are painted over with brown, leading me to believe that there 's been a relo and I missed the change and was on the old trail. I wonder what's up with that?

I'm at the Greasy Creek Friendly, and I've had a shower. Yay! I'm thinking about slacking tomorrow. Ok, after inquiring re: slacking I'm probably not. The only road accessible point is 10 miles to hike and 22 miles to drive.

Today was a rough 14 miles. I think part of that was due to the fact that Beauty Spot was socked in with fog so I didn't have that view and experience to push me along.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Overmountain Shelter

2 May 2005, Monday ~ 14.5 miles

Roan was not the million dollar view I expected, but there were some great views from the knob South of Ash Gap and from Little Rock Knob.

Tehre are at least a dozen people here. Let's see...Swift, KTR, Thrifty, Moonpie, Mother, Ribeye, Sensei, Bravo, Peanut, Six Piece...I'm sure there's more. Drumstick. That's all I can come up with for now.

They don't seem to be into switchbacks here either, and the result of this is some unbelievable erosion. I've never seen anything like it.

Too cold to write more.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Campsite near Mountaineer Falls

3 May 2005, Tuesday ~ 17.1 miles

It was unbelievably cold at Overmountain Shelter. It would have ben anywhere though. There were frost heaves all the way up Hump Mountain. It was a fabulous bald and I took a little movie because the 360' view demanded it. A TN guy named Prometheus had a hiker feed at 19E today. That road corssing and the area around it has a bad rep because the locals (supposedly) hate hikers.

The weather today was wonderful. I hiked with Bravo most of today, and I think we'll hike into Kincora together tomorrow as we seem to be hiking the same speed. He's a thru-hiker from Norfolk, ex Navy, wife is on the Enterprise, also Navy (duh).

Getting too cold to write. Jones Falls was also beautiful!

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Dennis Cove Road

4 May 2005, Wednesday ~ 17.6 miles

Great place. Didn't write a damn thing while I was there. I had steak and salad for dinner, which was perfect.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Campsite after Vanderventer Shelter

5 May 2005, Thursday ~ 21.3 miles

Big day with a big totally pointless climb. Ridge over Watuga was great though -- view all the way down the ridge overlooking the lake for *miles*. Too many trees to get a good shot with a Camera though.

Big Campfire here because again, it is very cold. Pond Mtn was a total PUD.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM

Damascus, VA

6 May 2005, Friday ~ 28.9 miles

So, a bunch of us hiked 30 miles today to get to Damascus, well, today. As it turns out, we needn't have bothered because the entire town is full. It took at least an hour to find that out. I finally decided to give up and start driving home, stopping for a hotel when I needed to.

I stopped at the Relax Inn at Rural Retreat. I've stayed there before, and it's clean and cheap and pleasant.

Posted by nicole at January 15, 2006 19:46 PM