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Day 30- 11 Miles today from Newfound gap to Peck’s Corner shelter, 2,800 Feet Up, 2,600 Feet down, Total 293 AT miles
A Million Stories
Woke up early this morning and ate my my first breakfast at the hotel. I feel like a hobbit because we stopped in again around 9:30 for a second breakfast before we took off. The breakfast was simple but still wonderful. It was just some stuff to put in the toaster like waffles, coffee, yogurt, the usual but it was such a nice change from trail food.
At the NOC we ran into a gentlemen I didn’t even recognize because he was all cleaned up. We had seen him at a shelter one night and he didn’t say much. He just kind of looked up when we arrived. He had already been there awhile and was laying in his bag looking like he wanted to be left alone.
So we didn’t bother him or talk with him as we all got busy that night. The next day he left before us and again showed up at the next shelter. Again he was already laying in his bag and didn’t say much.
When we saw him today we started talking to him and he said he was in retired policemen from New York City. He had been a sergeant in the precinct right where the twin towers came down. His precinct was one of the first to respond.
He had taken group of people out of the building when he got the notice that everybody needs to get out now. His buddy Carl was not so lucky and died. He and Carl were going to hike the Appalachian trail together.
So this guy was sitting in the shelters thinking about his buddy Carl who wasn’t able to be with him on this hike. People have all kinds of stories out here.
Catch the Early Train
We caught the 11:00 a.m. NOC shuttle up to Newfound Gap thank you NOC. When we got to the gap there were two churches that set up trail magic. I finally got my hamburger that I have been dreaming about for days freshly cooked.
They also had all kinds of all kinds of foods, fresh fruit, cooked pastries, cookies, and trail needs like lighters, medicine etc. We felt like we were in Christmas time.
Climbing out of the gap was heavy
Unfortunately I still had all the food that I’ve been carrying from Fontana plus and a full pizza from Mellow Mushroom. So we’re both pretty heavy with all this extra new food and the climb is 1,000 feet in 3 miles.
Our original goal was to hit Ice Water Springs shelter but it looks like we will move on to the next shelter Pecks Corner. Unfortunately Pecks is 0.4 mi off the trail. We had a similar situation in Connecticut after a very long 12 mile hike where we had to hike down into a deep ravine 0.4 mi to camp.
But it’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining and we are ready to hike after the nero.
You Smell
Heading out of Newfound Gap there were lots of muggles. You could smell them coming and going. You could smell multiple layers- clean clothes, deodorants, perfumes and shampoos. I guess it’s because we’re just desensitized to our own stink.
This section of trail is so well traveled and well maintained. which made the hiking much easier. We stopped at Icewater Springs shelter to get water for what looked like a long carry.
After Icewater was a descent until we started a gradual climb up to Charlie’s bunion.
We’ve been hiking with a lovely scent of spruce trees in the air most of the day. Charlies bunion was another spectacular view.
After Charlies we climbed 1,100 foot climb in 3 miles.
The trail traveled along a knife ridge with steep drop offs on either side and beautiful views. We stopped on one of these knife ridges to get rid of some of the weight off my pack, the pizza.
Fire On The Mountain
Continuing on we had more climbs and drops and very steep knife ridges. It was then that Knockerz noticed smoke in the valley to our right.
We called 911 who con
nected us to the Park Rangers. Although they wanted a compass reading of the fires location, they didn’t seem too concerned about it. So we continued on to the shelter which appeared to be in the path of the fire not knowing if it was going to be safe or not.
The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. Psalms 103:15-16
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