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Journal
| About Downunda | Trail
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1st May 2002 From:
Saunders Shelter It's 11:00 A.M. and I'm at the Lost Mountain Shelter [map] trying to decide whether to stay or move on, as the next shelter is 12 miles further on over Whitetop Mountain. I started hiking at 7:15 A.M. and it has been delightful - coolish temperature and lots of rhododendrons all along the trail as I crossed many beautiful streams and one river. For about one mile the AT converged with the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is the old railway line bed of the Virginia Creeper Train Line. This trail is now used by mountain bikers for leisure cycling.
This afternoon's hiking was fairly hard, as I had to climb Whitetop Mountain. At 5520 feet it affords magnificent views and as it is almost treeless; it is classed as a "bald" (grassy hill). About one mile after crossing Whitetop, I came across a spring in the side of the hill that had water rushing out of a pipe at a great rate. As there was a grassy area alongside that offered a magnificent view, I decided to set up camp, and as of 7:40 P.M., I am still alone. Something happened this afternoon that got me thinking what's the worst thing that can happen to a hiker? I came up with two things: (1) To discover you have left an important piece of equipment back at the last shelter ten miles away, and (2) to drop your roll of toilet paper into the privy. That's what I did and it almost brought me to tears, as my next visit to the store is 3 or 4 days away. So not wanting to use leaves as some do, I "borrowed" a few pages from the shelter register. I figured that's the intended secondary purpose of them anyway. I worried about the situation all afternoon until I ran into a group of day hikers who struck up a conversation with me. Well, I told them my tale of woe and fortunately they gave me a handful of T.P. and also took my photo with them (which they will e-mail home to me). I have cleaned up, had dinner, and have been watching a cute little rust colored mouse, which is sitting outside my tent. I have hung my food from a tree so I hope he just goes elsewhere tonight and doesn't decide to eat a hole in my tent.
Bye for now. |
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