Appalachian Trail Day 21

03-20-01 Day 21, 7:30 AM 1:20 PM

15.7 miles, AT – 235.1

Tri-corner – Davenport Gap

Day 6 of rain

Snow, wind (strong), rain and sleet.

Last night we had a noisy bunch at the shelter.

I was the only thru-hiker. The Ohio boys were there (Dave & Chris). I finally asked their names. We had a nice fire but I went to bed so I didnt get to warm myself much. The night started not too cold but by morning it was snowy and windy. I left my boots next to the cage fence and they got snow in them!

I was the first to leave the shelter and brave the cold. The hike was cold and windy. Trees were swaying 2-3 feet at the high peaks. My hands kept going numb so I would alter putting my hands in my coat pocket to warm them. My beard was full of ice too.

Appalachian Trail Day 21 - Tri Corner Knob - Davenport Gap

Great Smoky Mountains

I stopped at Cosby Shelter to find two people still there. One thru-hiker and one weekender. A message to all non thru-hikers leave your jeans and other cotton at home! People are mindless. I only stayed at Cosby long enough to eat and get warm. I only managed to get cold sitting there.

There was a lot of down today and my left knee was feeling it again. I was also moving fast too, to get out of the rain and snow.

I saw a mouse, spider and wild turkey and rough grouse tracks.

When I got to Davenport Gap, I looked at my book and it said or I though it said Ranger Station, phone, bathroom 1.5 miles left. I was wrong. Luckily I got a ride from some very lost people. I finally got to a store where I got warm, had a Coke and some cookies and tried to reach my Aunt Ruth. Her cell phone wasnt working. So I had to sit at the window and wait for here to go by since she was picking me up at the Gap not the store. I even had my Dad call her too, No luck.

As luck would have it, a semi-trailer truck delivering beer blocked the front of the store and I hesitated at seeing a dark red car (the description given to me by my Aunt) and before I got outside she was past the store and missed me. I thought it over and said Hell Ill walk back towards the Gap.

Great Smoky Mountains

Little did I know, it was 9 miles back. After two I sat on an old tire until I got cold and then I started to pace. I figured she had to come back my way sometime. At 5:30 PM she did. Cold and wet I got in the car only to find out that I had left my money, license, credit card, and bankcard all at the store.

We stopped at the store and I thanked them for holding my stuff and for letting me stay inside. I also got the real scoop on the lady who got killed by the bear last year.

The ride to my Aunts house was closer to two hours but I finally got my pizza!!! I showered, checked e-mail, and did laundry. Tomorrow will be a zero day and I will see Survivor again and hit the trail on Thursday.

Scatman 2011- This day was “EPIC”. Between the the howling winds, side ways snow, trees blowing over, the rain, reading my maps wrong, more rain, forgetting my wallet, I was spent. It was odd to be in a car moving at such a high rate of speed. I remember sitting in the back calculating how long it would take to walk the same distance. On this day I went from waking up in a blizzard, in a shelter in the middle of the Smokies to the warmth of a bed, in a house in a descent size city in TN. Crazy.

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Scatman

Get out there!