High Tech's '96 Chuck Hike

Fondana Dam Shelter
Day: 23
Mileage: 163.9

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
165.9	Fontana Dam Shelter (1,775') ?6.7mS; 11.4mN	1775

05/07/96 8:22 pm

Well today SUCKED! Well it might not have been all bad, but it sure was trying.

First I did not get the best sleep last night, both because of electric lights and also because Genia .Acident Waiting to Happen. wanted to stay up all night and make noise.

Waiting for a fellow hiker to go to breakfast together and we miss breakfast time by about 10 min. I still got cereal, but it wasn.t what I hoped for.

The Fontana resort was out of fuel and the gas station was closed. Luckey, .Max Packtor. saw a can by the registration desk they use in emergancy lanters, and they gave me some.

Also forgot to pick up the vanishing scent Ben Gay, so I hope my leg doesn.t need any.

Then, I forget to mail back both the gold lighter and my boot treatment stuff...good more weight in my pack.

Then I get out of town finaly, and about a � mile down the road it starts to rain.

Then I get on the AT and take my first fall of the trip and slightly twist my left ankle, just what my left leg needs!

Also I have had the farts all day and G-d they are bad!

The shelter here is great and I am here with 3 thru-hikers and a guy who is going through the motions, but mostly hitchhiking from trail town to trial town, nice guy and it that is how he wants to do it who am I to comment.

Was able to give some the one 'hiker' some extra food that I wasn't in the mood to eat, and also helped out 2 others with a o-ring because their stove and they were greatful.

Another thunder storm is rolling in now, and it will probably be raining shortly.

Well tomarrow the Smokies, and a hopefully better day!

05/08/96 11:27 am

Last night I was walked on by a skunk! Did no dammage, except eating one of Iron Phill.s tea bags....good skunk!

Mollies Ridge Shelter G.S.M.N.P.
Day: 24
Mileage: 174.5

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
166.3	Fontana Dam Visitor Center (1,700')	1700
166.7	Fontana Dam, Little Tennessee River (1,740'); southern boundary, Great Smoky Moun-tains National Park	1740
167.4	Lakeview Drive West, Benton MacKaye Trail (1,800')	1800
170.8	Shuckstack Fire Tower (3,800')	3800
172.1	Birch Spring Gap (3,680')?tentsites, spring	3680
174.2	Doe Knob (4,520')	4520
175.6	Ekaneetlee Gap (3,842')?spring west 300 ft.	3842
177.3	Mollies Ridge Shelter (4,570') ?11.4mS; 3.1mN	4570

05/08/96 4:36 pm

Well the first hike in the Smokies, and I did not see a bear. I did see a lot of intresting birds (including a hawk) and squirls but thats it.

Met up with Sunshine and her sister. Seem like good people. They are here already along with 3 hikers out for a week (from Michagan where they go to university).

Great hiking day, but a bit buggy. But thank G-d no rain!!

When I got here there were about 18 people here, but most moved on to the next shelter 2.5 miles away. They were all at the last shelter last night were itwas MOBED. Glad I stayed at the Hilton last night.

05/09/96 9:49 am

Well last night was a scream, Botney Boy had us all laughing once again. Also Ranger Rick (no joke, thats his name) was here. He hunts boars to control them and was here just letting us know if we heard gunshots it was him. He was very knowegable about the park too.

Good campfire was put on by 3 college kids out for the week (campfire ashes) and it helped the terrible natt problem was well.

During the night, the collage girl said .there.s a bear..no two. and got the whole shelter up. All it was was two tree stumps! She will NEVER live it down I am sure!

Well should get my ass moving, but having a hard time doing it.

Spence Field Shelter G.S.M.N.P.
Mileage: 179.6
05/09/96 12:41 pm

Here for a break and us the only Privey I have seen so far in the GSMNP. When they build one they do it right!

Two great balds, with views, coming here. They are a nice change of pace from trees, rocks and more trees.

Derrick Knob Shelter G.S.M.N.P.
Day: 25
Mileage: 185.9

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
177.3	Mollies Ridge Shelter (4,570') ?11.4mS; 3.1mN	4570
178	Devils Tater Patch (4,775')	4775
179	Little Abrams Gap (4,120')	4120
180.4	Russell Field Shelter (4,360')?3.1mS; 3mN	4360
181.8	Little Bald (5,200')?vista	5200
183.2	Eagle Creek Trail to Spence Field Shelter (4,915')?3mS; 6.3mN Bote Mountain Trail	4915
184.4	Rocky Top (5,440')?vista	5440
185	Thunderhead (east peak) (5,527')?vista	5527
186	Beechnut Gap (4,920')?spring west 200 ft.	4920
186.6	Mineral Gap (5,030')	5030
186.9	Brier Knob (5,210')?vista	5210
188.3	Sugar Tree Gap (4,435')	4435
189	Chestnut Bald (4,950')	4950
189.3	Derrick Knob Shelter (4,880') ?6.3mS; 5.7mN	4880

05/09/96 8:15 pm

Here in my bivey outside the shelter. The natts are terible AGAIN!

It was a hard hike, but going over the fields was a great change from trees, rocks and more trees.

It is a full house in the shelter and I gave my spot up for Jim (a.k.a. Sid) because he was deader than I was.

I do have to state for the record that the elevation profile on the GSMNP map STINKS, is full of bull ect ect ect......

It also rained shortly after I got in (but before Jim got in) but it was short and gave a short repreave on the natt situation, but the repreave was way to short!

Since M.C. Brandy and Botny Boy are both here it is quite lively to say the least. Iron Phill pissed off a lot of people a few days ago at the Fontana Hilton, so he is staying amazingly quiet (Thank G-d).

It is also amazing how often the movie .The Holy Grail. (Monty Pithon) comes up in conversations. Also the original cast of Saterday Night Live is popular.

Leg doing ok now, but a blister on my right foot is hard to keep moleskin on. Every time I put something on it, it falls off half way through the day, I will have to find something that works soon, I am running out of layers of skin.

It is a nice sunset tonight, but still not as nice as Cheoa Bald.

Silers Bald Shelter G.S.M.N.P.
Day: 26
Mileage: 191.4

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
189.3	Derrick Knob Shelter (4,880') ?6.3mS; 5.7mN	4880
189.5	Sams Gap (4,995')?spring west 300 ft.	4995
192.2	Buckeye Gap (4,817')?spring east 600 ft.	4817
195	Silers Bald Shelter (5,460')?5.7mS; 1.7mN	5460

05/10/96 12:40 pm

Made a really short day of it today. Hoping Iron Phill, who I had a run in with this morning, passes by and goes to at least the next shelter, if not beyond. The guy is intresting, but he talks from sun up to sun down: blah blah blah blah blah! He started to badmouth Hidie Gone Burgler and Smokey Mo and that was all I could take.

On the up side today, I SAW A BEAR!!!!! I was stoped because someone in front of my scrached something into the trail (with an arrow). I looked to were the arrow was pointing and a small bear, maybe a year or so old, bolted down the hill. I then realized what the person wrote .BEAR.. It happed so quick that there was no time to think, my jaw droped and I wached as this magnificent animal just ran as fast as it could. What a sight!!!

Going to make it a short day today and stop here. I could go on but I know the shelter will be full. I will end up sleeping outside tomarrow night because of the croud at the next shelter and it is a weekend, but I can live with that so long as I can hang my pack inside.

Oh yes, forgot to mention at I woke up last night, for a piss of course, and it was a fantanstic night for stargazing. Quite a sight indeed!

05/10/96 8:46 pm

Well I am still here, and boy I needed the break. I took a .Shower., did laundry, aired my sleeping bag and kicked back and read.

I must have been into the reading, because Iron Phill came and told me I had better get my sleeping bag in before is started raining. Sure enough, it started raining a minute later. Lucky I listened and got my sleeping bag in time.

Iron Phill and I seemed to get along during the time he was here, so I guess we both had time enough to cool down.

Now I am in the shelter with 4 local boys, 2 section hikers from Florida and the brothers from Kansass. Good to be with some new people for a change.

Since the storm came through it has gotten a little colder and more windy. People tell me there is a 70% chance of rain and thunderstorms fore tomarrow...Hope they are wrong.

Mt Collins Shelter G.S.M.N.P.
Day: 27
Mileage: 199.4

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
195	Silers Bald Shelter (5,460')?5.7mS; 1.7mN	5460
195.2	Silers Bald (5,607')?vistas	5607
196.7	Double Spring Gap Shelter (5,505') ?1.7mS; 6.6mN	5505
199	Mt. Buckley (6,582')?vista	6582
199.4	Clingmans Dome (6,643')?observation deck	6643
200.1	Mt. Love (6,446')	6446
202.8	Sugarland Mountain Trail Mt. Collins Shelter (5,900')?6.6mS; 7.8mN	5900

05/11/96 4:04 pm

It was quite a day. Woke up to threatening skys, but packed up anyway. Before I was ready to go there was a shower, but it stopped before I got going. Made it to Double Spring shelter in good time. I took a break there and enjoyed the privey. It once again sprinkeled but stopped before I left. Then it started looking worse and worse. Made it to Clingmans Dome, but it was so socked in, there was nothing to see. Got some tourists to take a photo just as a joke. Whent down the tower and ate a snack with a section hiking south bounder. There was a guy there with a getoblaster just blairing the music. Some people just don't get it do they! I then headed down the road because I was out of water and was told the bathroom had running water. Good thing I did because � of the way there it started tor rain, by the time I got there it was pouring. Spent some time there with Iron Phill and 3 section hikers. After a while I was cold and hungry and making jokes about cooking some Ramen Noodels. Well joke turned into reality and I just loved the tourist's faces when they came in to take a piss and I was sitting there cooking.

By this time it had stopped raining. While I was just finishing cooking, two park empoyees came in. I thought I would be in deep crap, but they looked at me and said NOTHING! After eating I whent back up the tower and took some 'after shots' and you could see someting at least.

All though the afternoon's hike, I just kept thinking how absured the whole scene was. I mean cooking in a bathroom...I.m a thru hiker NOW! (to pariphrase Robin Williams.s I.m a father now joke).

Now here at the shelter, and even though it is a saturday, no one is here. The spring here does SUCK, I had a major problem just filling my water bag half way. It is cool now, and I heard that the forcast said it will be in the low 40.s tonight. That would make it the coldest night since Springer Mt. But I will be in a shelter and dry (if not warm).

05/12/96 10:41 am

Yes, its 10:41 and I am still here, I have gotten out of my sleeping bag once to take a piss and thats it. It has been raining and hailing on and off all morning, along with a gusty wind.

Here with 3 thru hikers and 4 weekender (who are all pulling off today).

Sooner or latter, I will push off but only when it warms up (I hope).

This shelter is crawling with life. There are two birds that come right in the shelter, also a squirl has done the same thing. No mice though (and there was much rejoicing)!!

Icewater Spring Shelter G.S.M.N.P.
Day: 28
Mileage: 206.9

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
202.8	Sugarland Mountain Trail Mt. Collins Shelter (5,900')?6.6mS; 7.8mN	5900
205.4	Indian Gap (5,286')	5286
207.1	U.S. 441, Newfound Gap (5,045') Rockefeller Memorial?restrooms Cherokee, N.C. 28719 Gatlinburg, Tenn. 37738	5045
209.8	Boulevard Trail (5,695') to Mt. LeConte	5695
210.1	Icewater Spring Shelter (5,920') ?7.8mS; 7.6mN	5920

05/12/96 8:25 pm

Well, I did get going around noon, and it turned out to be a good day to hike. Not much of a problem of overheating. It didn.t get much above 60 today.

Whent by Newfound Gap wich, being Sunday, was crwling with tourists. I was asked about the A.T. a number of times and also got some toilet paper from the bathroom there, thank G-d I was almost off. Other hikers called it Wally World (of Vacation movie fame).

Well it is getting dark and Waldo is here giving out blue M&M.s (he dosn.t eat them, he is protesting the new color) and it is cooling off pretty good. Here with the 2 hikers I met at Fontana (the ones the guy last night was looking for and found.. even got a brownies and a banana from that person) the two brothers from Kansas, 2 section hikers, Waldo, and an older guy who is hiking south to Springer to complete the trail in sections (he is up there in age to, good for him).

This shelter is a thru hiker only shelter, the privey is almost full, at least that is why I think it is closed off, It has the best srping I have seen, it comes right out of the ground. They are building a new privey (probably a composting one like the last shelter, so it should be re-opened to all hikers soon. This shelter also has a great view and should have a great view of the sunise in the morning.

05/13/96 10:49 am

Never did see a sunrise, since it was so cold, I never poked my head outside the bivey.

Last night we had two human (well more like sub-human) visitors. They came up here to get stoned, and accomplished that. Then, realizing there were people in a closed shelter, they tried to figure out how we got in. Not realizing the chain on the door had a hook, not a lock, they came thru the chimney. They had a big boom box with them, but, thank G-d, never used it. {these two .people. ended up with the .trail names. of .Santa and his Elf.}

The southbound section hiker I talked about last night was 'George the Painter' and when he reaches Springer he is done. He told a bunch of stories about his hike and was a great story teller to boot. Hope he makes it all the way.

It is Snowing now, but I have 12+ miles to the next shelter, so I must be off.

Tri-Corner Knob Shelter G.S.M.N.P.
Day: 29
Mileage: 219.5

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
210.1	Icewater Spring Shelter (5,920') ?7.8mS; 7.6mN	5920
210.9	Charlies Bunion (5,500')?west 0.1m on loop trail	5500
212.3	Porters Gap, the Sawteeth (5,577')	5577
215.4	Bradley's View (5,200')?vistas	5200
217.3	Hughes Ridge Trail to Peck's Corner Shelter (5,280') ?7.6mS; 5.3mN	5280
219.6	Mt. Sequoyah (6,069')	6069
221.4	Mt. Chapman (6,417')	6417
222.2	Tri-Corner Knob Shelter (5,920') ?5.3mS; 7.7mN	5920

05/13/96 6:54 pm

It was quit a day. It started cold and snowing, and did not get much better. But the views with the fog, snow and clouds was worth it. The guidbooks said that this section was filled with good view (including Charlies Bunion) and was one of the best in the Smokies. It did not disapoint!

Also did a 12+ mile day, in the not so good weather, so I am quite proud of that.

When I got to the shelter, a great fire was going and I ate and ate and ate. Hade in all a three course dinner with soup, beef/mushrooms/potatos, and ending with pudding. Great Dinner!!

My water filter handel broke today, but a stick and duct tape fixed it, at least temporarily. But I should talk to Pur when I get into town.

All in all a good day!

05/14/96 9:23 am

Finaly, hope for a good day. Hoping to get to Mountain Mama.s. Good night, but put Waldo and Twinkie the Kid in the same shelter and things get a little weird!

Well I best be off! Food, shower, clean cloths await.

Mountain Moma's Kuntry Store & Bunkhouse
Day: 30
Mileage: 235.5

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
223.6	Guyot Spur (6,360')	6360
224.2	Guyot Spring (6,150')?on A.T.	6150
224.3	Mt. Guyot Side Trail (6,395')	6395
226.1	Snake Den Ridge Trail (5,600')	5600
229.5	Cosby Knob (5,150')	5150
229.9	Cosby Knob Shelter (4,700')?7.7mS; 7.1mN	4700
230.7	Low Gap Trail (4,240')	4240
232.8	Mt. Cammerer side trail to fire tower (5,000')	5000
233.3	Spring (4,300')?on A.T.	4300
234.7	Spring (3,700')?east 80 ft.	3700
235.9	Chestnut Branch Trail (2,900')	2900
237	Davenport Gap Shelter (2,600') ?7.1mS; 10.7mN	2600
237.9	Tenn. 32, Cove Creek Rd. (Old N.C. 284), Davenport Gap (1,975'); eastern boundary, Great Smoky Mountain National Park	1975

05/14/96 9:45 pm

A new one day record of 16+ miles and boy was it worth it. This place does have a very good hamburger and good pie too. The shower, bunkhouse and laundry is the usual stuff, but after the Smokies (and living on the trail in general) it looks like heaven!

Great day for hiking, mostly sunny but cool. Could have done without the horse crap on the trail, not to mention the damage to the trail by horseshoes.

My heal on my left foot is killing me. It was even bleeding today. I think it might be my boots, but I am not sure.

Trail days is coming up and Waldo is trying to arrange rides, but who knows. If I am ment to be there, it will happen.

Waldo's hiking staff (same as mine) saved him todau, but ened up with a quite a bend in it, but better the stick than his knee (wich he said would have been killed without the stick).

Still having fun, but I think 16 miles is a little too much to hike in one day and still realy enjoy yourself, but it is nice to say I can do it!

'96 Hike Map