Journals

According to Pittsburgh:

APRIL 15, 1997 - THURSDAY
   we were up at 6am and cooked our own breakfasts. it sure was nice having a FULL KITCHEN and a STOCKED REFRIGERATOR! we left the "WATAUGA COUNTY HIKER HOSTEL" (PETER PAN and TIMMY's house) at 7:30am and were on the trail at CAMPBELL HOLLOW ROAD by 8:30am...
   the hike was a WASHBOARD. the trail crossed over stream after stream, meaning little downs and ups for a good portion of the day. this can take it's toll. the WHITE ROCKS MOUNTAIN FIRE TOWER was a crumbling structure that needs repaired or removed. the trail up to the tower was along an old, rutted, washed out road that was not a joy to hike...
   GILAMAN was waiting at our destination, DENNIS COVE (USFS 50), when we arrived. we headed for the "HOSTEL". PETER PAN had been out and about during the day, had found two hikers, LONDON and DAY HIKER (a young couple), and had offered them a SHOWER and REAL FOOD. they were clean and hungry when the rest of us arrived. we cleaned up, then GILAMAN prepared a SALAD and PASTA meal. DAYHIKER provided desert. she and LONDON had received two boxes laden with food, and were happy to share. after supper, DAY HIKER opened her food boxes, and GILAMAN opened our food boxes, and they commenced to swap and bargain...
   LONDON and DAY HIKER thought they were in heaven. SHOWER, REAL FOOD, HEAT, and a BED, with TRANSPORT TO THE TRAIL, and a SLACKPACK tommorrow...

MAY 16, 1997 - FRIDAY
   PETER PAN had breakfast waiting (we're getting soft). it was a short mileage day, so we took our time getting out of the "HOSTEL". with LONDON and DAY HIKER, we all headed for DENNIS COVE (USFS 50). TIMMY had been having trouble with her legs and feet, and with the aid of PETER PAN, decided to hike a short distance out and back to see how she felt...
   a short 1.2 miles into the hike is LAUREL FALLS. this is the most impressive falls of the trail so far. TIMMY and PETER PAN headed back to DENNIS COVE. the trail continues along the banks of the stream. the weather was exceptional, so the overall feeling for the start of the hike was very uplifting...
   the climb to POND FLATS, at times, became very steep, but this could not dampen the day. the descent to WATAUGA LAKE is a very gentle, switchbacked trail. we all had split up as the day progressed, and i met up with LONDON and DAY HIKER at the lakeside picnic area. PETER PAN was having an active day shuttling hikers to DAMASCUS, VA, for TRAIL DAYS, and happened to be passing the lake (US 321). he saw us and stopped to say hello...
   we ran into SUNSHINE and SHAMROCK at the WATAUGA LAKE shelter. this was SHAMROCK's last day with the SLACKPACK TOUR, and we all decided to hike together with her for the rest of the day. PANTHER FAN was waiting for us at WATAUGA DAM ROAD. we loaded up and headed for DAMASCUS...
   TRAIL DAYS is an annual event in DAMASCUS which spans many days in the middle of MAY, with the height of the festivities this year on the 16th, 17th and 18th. we wanted to go to town to get a feel for the happenings. we parked near the GAZEBO, and walked through town, then to tent city (hiker location), then had supper at a local establishment. SHAMROCK had previous arrangements for lodging in town, so we dropped her off and then headed back to PETER PAN's and TIMMY's house...
   we popped the movie "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" into the VCR, but could not hold our eyes open long enough to finish...

MAY 17, 1997 - SATURDAY
a day off. the SLACKPACK VAN, plus two of PETER PAN's vehicles, headed into DAMASCUS at various times in the morning. the TRAIL DAYS festivities, official and unofficial, were underway early. during the day, i bumped into four or five hikers that i had met on my hike last year, and many, many hikers from the hike this year, plus a number of people from the AT email lists...
there were many arts and crafts booths, food booths, gear manufacturers booths, and an assortment of other booths. tent city was busting at the seams. the highlights of the day were the hiker parade in the afternoon, and the hiker talent (liberal terminology) contest in the evening...

MAY 18, 1997 - SUNDAY
   TIMMY decided to take a few days off of the trail, so PANTHER FAN, SUNSHINE, and i headed out after a leisurely morning. we drove to TN 91 and hiked south. we flew along the trail, invigorated by the day off, and a warm inviting day. six or seven hikers passed us going north. the only ones that we knew were KEEBLER ELF and WEEBLE. they had not gone to TRAIL DAYS, and for the past few days, had enjoyed a trail virtually empty of hikers. the trail was gentle, and we hiked the sixteen miles in just six hours. PANTHER FAN was waiting at WATAUGA DAM ROAD when we arrived.
   back at the "HOSTEL", we had SALAD and PIZZA for supper. after supper, we had BEN and JERRY's ICE CREAM. this had been provided by LONDON and DAY HIKER, who had bought it earlier in the day, before PETER PAN had taken them to the US 19E trail crossing, where they were continuing their hike...
   we ended the day watching a couple of Appalachian Trail videos: "AMAZING GRACE", the story of a blind thru-hiker, and "FIVE MILLION STEPS", which follows several hikers as they head north...

MAY 19, 1997 - MONDAY
   SUNSHINE and i had a short hiking day, from TN 91 to McQUEENS GAP (USFS 69). we bumped into SHAMROCK and her SON as they hiked south. she is getting some quality time with her son, and finishing some miles missed, before returning to NEW ORLEANS. she would like to hike from DAMASCUS to HARPERS FERRY next year...
   TIMMY's father, a very kind and generous man, took all of us out to supper after the hike (and showers). tonight is our last night at PETER PAN's and TIMMY's. we are all very grateful for the wonderful hospitality...
   TIMMY was given a clean bill of health by her doctor (she has swollen ankles), and has been given a green light to continue hiking. she will be in DAMASCUS on TUESDAY as we hike through. we will meet at QUINCY's, a pizza joint, then all hike out of town together...

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