Fontana Dam, NC to Garenflo Gap, NC

Day 7, Wednesday, October 4

Icewater Spring Shelter to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter, 12.6 miles

A mouse after something wakes me up at 6:30 AM. I embarrass him when I shine my flashlight on him. He runs away. He's back five minutes later though as soon as things quieten down again.

I'm up at 7:00 AM and together we pack up and watch the sunrise. The sun is coming up over the mountains below us. It struggles to get over the ridges, but finally blinds us as it climbs from behind the ridge below. Most beautiful sunrise I've seen in years.

I eat a cold breakfast, crackers, and a snackbar, and hit the trail at 7:43 AM. It takes thirty minutes for me to hike over to Charlies Bunion. This is one of the most awesome places and views I've ever seen. I carefully climb around the wet ledge and take some pictures. I hope I don't meet a bear here. Nowhere to hide!

The Kirk's pass me an hour later as I'm taking a break. I pass them back as they rest and admire the view at Bradley's View.

I take a POBO and snack break at 10:40 AM and take some pictures at a rock ledge overlook. I reach Peck's Corner at 11:30 AM and stop for a break at 11:50 AM at a marvelous view at Eagle Rocks.

The climb out of Copper Gap is not too bad, but at this point anything uphill sucks. Mt. Sequoyah isn't too bad either, but then I drop back down to Chapman Gap. And Chapman Gap comes right before...you guessed it. MT. CHAPMAN! Six hundred feet climb. Long, but not too steep, but long and rocky. Thank goodness I don't have to go all the way to the top. It turns out to be a long climb, but suddenly it's over. I reach and climb Tri-Corner Knob and reach Tri-Corner Knob Shelter at 2:15 PM! What a day so far. 12.6 miles in six-and-a-half hours. Getting better at this, but my feet hurt. I drop my pack and quickly get out of my boots. No new blisters, but my feet are very tender.

There are a few puffy/dark clouds in the sky. The weather since Thursday has been exceptional. Couldn't ask for a better seven days so far. I hope its not ending though. We're due for some rain in the forecast. I'm debating whether to try to reach the next shelter (Cosby Knob Shelter) in case bad weather is coming. I do the math and find out it's 7.7 miles further. I don't think I can do that. I was thinking it was slightly under six miles. 7.7 miles and still have enough daylight to cook and clean up won't make it.

I've got 15.7 miles to reach Davenport Gap, and at least another mile or mile-and-a-half to reach Mountain Mama's. If I could get in those miles today, it would make tomorrow much easier.

After deliberating for a while, I determine my feet probably won't make it, so I decide to stay. Matt (son) and David (father) Kirk come in at 2:45 PM. Looks like we'll be together for the night again.

I take my time hanging laundry and cleaning up. I pump enough water and take a cat bath in the warm sun. I decide to cook an early supper and be done cleaning up well before dark. We gather some firewood and Matt builds a fire. It is a very calm, warm evening all things considered.

A lone hiker comes in at almost 8:00 PM, well after dark. He doesn't say much and just cooks supper and goes to bed. We sit around the campfire until after 9:30 PM and then turn in. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day. Matt transplants the fire from outside to the shelter fireplace and it takes well. I call my brother on my cellular phone. He and my friend Bob are still planning to meet me Thursday night at Davenport Gap. He tells me the weather forecast for tomorrow is for showers with a possibility of snow on Saturday! A cold front is screaming toward the Carolinas bringing much colder weather with it. Who would have figured?