Allen Gap, NC to Watauga Lake, TN

Day 6, Monday, May 28

Cherry Gap Shelter to Clyde Smith Shelter, 8.7 miles

It must have rained a little overnight because it still sounds like it's dripping when I wake up at 6 AM. At 6:15 AM the bottom falls out. I roll over and try to go back to sleep, determined not to hike any more in the rain if I can help it. It rains until almost 9 AM and I cat nap until then. First time I've stayed in the sack this late.

I finally get up and boil some water for grits. "Salty" gets up a few minutes later. As we're cooking, Tom comes in. He camped on top of Unaka Mountain last night with several other folks I've not yet met. He talks for a few minutes and pushes on. I slowly eat breakfast, pack up, and I'm finally out of the shelter at 10:20 AM. Late start.

The first mile is a killer. My legs don't have it in them this morning. I struggle over three hills praying for level ground. Finally, I reach the top and it's downhill and good trail to Iron Mountain Gap which I reach at 11:30 AM. Two-and-seven-tenths miles in just over an hour. Something must be wrong with the guidebook! The next several miles are good hiking.

I catch Tom taking a break at 12:30 PM. We hike on for another hour. I take a break at 1:30 PM on top of a ridge and Tom catches up to me. "Whitey" followed by "Ropeyarn" (Jim Kennedy), two of the folks that Tom was with, and "Salty" come by.

We hike on another hour and I pass "Whitey" and then "Salty" just a few hundred yards from the shelter trail. I reach Clyde Smith Shelter at 3 PM and meet "Slo-Motion" heading further up the trail. I'm going to stay here tonight and rest my legs for the climb over Roan Mountain tomorrow.

I get water to drink and for a bath. The spring is 250 feet down the hill and naturally up the hill to get back to the shelter. "Belu" and "Yellow" show up and we have a full house for tonight. Clyde Smith shelter is a small shelter, only holding six.

The entire day has been dreary and gray with the sun only momentarily peeking through the clouds. No more rain since morning, but a very wet and muddy trail. I slipped down once on today's hike and did a split before rolling my left foot over beyond its stretching point. It hurt for a few minutes, but it took my mind off the blisters so it didn't actually feel too bad. Maybe I should do the other foot.

I take a bath behind the shelter and I feel great. I put water on to boil and then forage for firewood. One of the guys is building a fire and that'll take the chill off. Soon, there is a roaring fire. It feels great!

I cook supper; soup and Ramen noodles. This stuff still actually tastes good after a week. I pull on my fleece and now I'm warm, dry, and clean. Can't get any better.

"Moonman" comes in after 9 PM. I had met him in Erwin over the weekend.

We hit the sack about 9:30 PM and its starts to rain a few minutes after 10 PM.