High Tech's '96 Chuck Hike

Rich Mountain Campsite
Day: 39
Mileage: 278.9

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
273.7	U.S. 25 & 70, N.C. 209 (1,326') Hot Springs, N.C. 28743	1326
275.1	Lovers Leap Rock (1,820')	1820
277	Pump Gap (2,130')	2130
278.6	Campsite (2,490')	2490

05/23/96 7:27 pm

Well this is the first, AND LAST, time I will ever start hiking at 1pm!

I just could not get out of Hot Springs. Maybe it was because I stayed up so late, maybe it was because of my aches and pains, maybe it was that I found out Snail No More was in town wit a sprained ankle and maybe it was just common sense telling me to stay, but motivating myself to get moving was almost impossible. I did not get packed untill noon and then the post office was closed for lunch, more time to almost stay annother night. But I didn.t. The fist climb almost killed me, mostly do to the heat and my pace was way to fast. I had to take a very long break at one point because I felt I was going to pass out.

After the break, I took it a little slower and started to enjoy the hike. then it started to go down hill to the little pond. The guide book said 'excellent campsight' and I was going to stay there, but I could not find the camp they were refering to. So instead, I took a long break and a swim. The water was refreshing but, until I dried, I felt very slimmy. But it did cool me off and woke me up enough so I could continue to hike to here. I probably could have made the shelter, but I have a feeling it was full anyway. I am now here with 'Slow-poke' who started March 15, but he is probably between 70 and 80, so to still be on the trail is quite an acomplishment for him. Hard to have a conversation with him though, since he put away his hearing aids (Boy is he deaf!).

Glad I did not fall victim to Hot Springs Layover Syndrome though!

Top 10 "Trail Lies"
Copied from the Spring Mt Shelter register dated 5/14
1. You're almost there
2. You can't miss it.
3. No, it's not a dry town.
4. There is a phone.
5. There is a privey.
6. It's waterproof.
7. No, really, I did hike it.
8. It's all downhill from here.
9. Topo maps.
10. Ramen noodles and tunafish are nutritious and delicious.

Little Laurel Shelter
Day: 40
Mileage: 290.3

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
278.6	Campsite (2,490')	2490
279.6	U.S. 25 & 70 overpass, Tanyard Gap (2,278')	2278
281.9	Rich Mountain Fire Tower Side Trail (3,600')	3600
283	USFS 467, Hurricane Gap (2,900')	2900
284.7	Spring Mountain Shelter (3,300') ?14.2mS; 8.6mN	3300
286.2	Spring (3,190")	3190
288.4	N.C. 208, Tenn. 70, Allen Gap, Paint Creek (2,234')	2234
290	Log Cabin Drive (2,560')	2560
293.3	Little Laurel Shelter (3,300') ?8.6mS; 6.8mN	3300

05/24/96 8:05 pm

Good hike today, and not as hard as I expected (what a surprise, the elevation profile was wrong again!).

Got 2 surprizes today, I was at Spring Mt Shelter just reading the log and some section hikers asked 'looking forward to icecream?' I had to ask were and they told me about the gas station that is right off trail that has icecream and drinks. The second surprise is when I got to the road there was Doc's wife waiting for me, well she offered me a cold drink, a snadwich and even an orange. It was the best! Then Doc arrived after slackpacking from Hot Springs, and they took me to the gas station for that icecream. In total I wasn't hiking for about 2 hours.

It was hot but I made good time to the shelter. Took a camper shower at the spring and did laundry.

Now listening to Crag playing his Martin Backpacker guiutar.

New hiker term; Exageration Maps - the totaly wrong profile maps of the A.T.

Animal of the day: A wild turkey on the trail about an hour south of the shelter.

Jerry Cabin Shelter
Day: 41
Mileage: 297.2

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
294.6	Bald Mountain Road, Camp Creek Bald (4,750')	4750
296.3	Spring, creek (4,390')?blue?blaze trails both sides of A.T.	4390
296.4	White Rock Cliffs (4,450')	4450
296.6	Blackstack Cliffs (4,420')	4420
297.6	Big Firescald Knob (4,360')	4360
300.1	Jerry Cabin Shelter (4,150') ?6.8mS; 6.3mN	4150

05/25/96 7:39 pm

Boy was I lazy today, got here at one and decided to take a break. Well I finaly got modivated and got packed up at about 3:30pm. I whent to the crapper and came back and it started to rain, so I stayed put.

During my break, a group from Outward Bound out on a course. Boy they looked dead! I am glad I don.t force myself to do that many miles, they were doing a 20 mile day (and they are out for onnly 3 days).

Good group tonight, 5 thru hikers here. Got news that Snail No More is on the trail again (he had a twisted ankle and was in Hot Springs for 8 days). I hope I see him soon!

It threatened to rain last night at dinner, and then it held off till 1 or 2am and tonight it looks like it is going to do the same thing.

One of the hikers here is called .tweetie bird., I just found out why, he plays the flute and quite well to. The funnything is, he whent behind the shelter and started playing and I didn.t expect it, but G-d its sweet!

We also have a fire going here (campfire ashes added), its a good group and a good time.

This shelter is taken care of by Sam Waddle who has been on the job here for 23 years! He must have a sense of humor with a telephone and and light socket.

Also the spring here is unusual, it starts off low, gets going really well and then stops dead. Then it starts all over again. Weired!

05/26/96 9:10 am

I just can.t seem to get out of here, it is raining and I am going to hopefully wait it out. Only one here, everyone else heading for the shelter 14+ miles away, as for me, I don.t know, but with my self motivation being so lacking, I will be glad just to get to the next shelter.

Flint Mt Shelter
Day: 42
Mileage: 303.1

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
300.1	Jerry Cabin Shelter (4,150') ?6.8mS; 6.3mN	4150
302	Big Butt (4,750')	4750
303.3	Spring (4,480')	4480
303.6	Shelton Graves (4,490')	4490
306.4	Flint Mountain Shelter (3,570') ?6.3mS; 8.9mN	3570

05/26/96 12:48 pm

Taking a break here. Got here, ate lunch, took a crap, got water and on my way back from getting water the sky grew dark and just when I got to the shelter the sky opened up and down came the rain. Boy do I have timing or what!

05/26/96 9:35 pm

My break turned into a stay. Here with Lone Wolf, Emperess, Snail No More and Waldo. Yes, Snail No More did catch up to me.

Waldo was sitting here autographing bibles with things like 'Good luck on your hike and watch out for the shelter mice - G-d'. Weird.

It cleared up, so it should be good hiking, well I can hope can't I.

Surprising that, being Memorial Day Weekend, I haven.t seen too many day or weekend hikers. Maybe the rain scared them off, but I am glad they stayed home.

Good to be back with old freinds again!

Good night.

Hogback Ridge Shelter
Day: 43
Mileage: 312

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
307.3	Campsite (3,400')	3400
309.1	N.C. 212, Devil Fork Gap (3,100')	3100
309.6	Rector Laurel Road (2,960')?several stream crossings on A.T. north of road	2960
312.4	Frozen Knob (4,579')	4579
313	Big Flat (4,160')	4160
314	Rice Gap (3,800')	3800
315.2	Hogback Ridge Shelter (4,255') ?8.9mS; 10.2mN	4255

05/27/96 7:36 pm

Well it is the first time in a while that I had to hike in the rain. But, with the heat, it felt good and I did not even try to put on my raingear.

Not to eventfull today, but I did loose my map for this section. I even whent back to were I took a break yesterday befor arriving at the shelter, but no luck.

One of the rare times when I have been in a shelter with the same group two days in a row.

One again it has started to rain, this sunny, downpour, sunny, downpour is realy starting to get to me. I hope the weather pattern changes soon.

Also runing low on food. I should be able to hold out until Erwon, but even more pressing is my low supply to T.P.

Well I guess I don.t have much else to say so I will end this entry here.

Bald Mt Shelter
Day: 44
Mileage: 321.7

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
315.2	Hogback Ridge Shelter (4,255') ?8.9mS; 10.2mN	4255
315.8	High Rock (4,460')	4460
317.6	Flag Pond Road, U.S. 23, I-26, Sams Gap (3,800')	3800
318.3	Springs (4,000')	4000
319.9	Street Gap Road, Street Gap (4,100')	4100
321.3	Low Gap (4,300')?spring	4300
323.3	Spring (4,850')	4850
324.1	Big Bald (5,516')	5516
324.4	Big Stamp (5,300')	5300
325.3	Bald Mountain Shelter (5,100') ?10.2mS; 10.6mN	5100

05/28/96 9:59 pm

In bed until noon because of the rain. We (Snail no More, Waldo, Empress and I) finally got off our asses because we felt lazy compared to Lone Wolf, who left hours before we got up.

It was a relitively easy day with nice views from a field after a campsight and then on top of Bald Mountain. Bald Mt was FANTASTIC! A 360 degree view and with clouds above all the surounding mountains. We stayed on top for the sunset, but it wasn.t that good. While there, 3 cars drove up. The first had three black guys in a 4x4 from Florida, and they surprised us, but they were just as surprised that someone would have hiked there. The second car just came, saw and whent. The third was funny becuase they drove up and didn.t even get out of there car. What a waist! We also cooked dinner up there and had a great time just talking and horsing around.

Hiked here in simi darkness, but no misshaps. Here in the shelter with the same group for the third night in a row (it's a record)!

Well its late and I have a 10 or 15 mile day depending how ambitious I get (and depending when I get up). Maybe I will get to Erwin tommarow...only time will tell!

Erwin, TN
Day: 45
Mileage: 337.5

Miles from Springer	Features	Elevation
325.7	Campsite (4,890')	4890
326.7	Little Bald (5,220')?wooded summit	5220
328.7	Whistling Gap (3,650')	3650
329	Trail to High Rocks (4,100')	4100
330.5	Campsite (3,490')	3490
331	U.S. 19W, Spivey Gap (3,200')	3200
331.6	Oglesby Branch (3,800')	3800
335.7	Spring (3,300')?water for No Business Knob Shelter	3300
335.9	No Business Knob Shelter (3,180') ?10.6mS; 10.5mN	3180
338.3	Temple Hill Gap (2,850')	2850
342.2	River Road (1,700') Chestoa Bridge, Nolichucky RiverErwin, Tenn. 37650	1700

05/29/96 11:54 pm
Here at Jenny's Inn after a pretty easy day of hiking. Waldo and Snail No More talked me into the last 5 miles here while I was taking a break at the last shelter.

Threatened rain all day, but never delivered. and the views going down to the river were pretty good.

Got a ride from a man in a pickup when we got to the river and he brought us to the wrong inn, but we were probably better off since this town is so spread out. We walked to the KFC, stoped at the Sonic Drive in on the way (had a shake and fries) then to the KFC were I ate way too much. Then bought groceries. We were getting ready to walk the long way back when we were offered a ride from a guy in a river rafting bus...whay a break!

Here now sorting through grocieries and talking. It's nice to be in town!

'96 Hike Map