Free Spirit’s ( Al's )

Appalachian Trail Journal

Frank and Mark left the hut before we did but we overtook them later in the morning then had lunch with them at Elkwallow Wayside (overcooked burgers are still better than trail food). It was not a pleasant day outside. After lunch they went off in a different direction and we proceeded on the AT.

There were several summits and overlooks as well as a hang glider launch site but none provided even a limited view in the dense fog. Also, it was cold enough that we had to keep moving to stay warm.

My knees were not getting any better - I was surviving on Ibuprofen and determination. I suspect part of the problem is the lack of insoles in my hiking boots (they kept working out of the boot so I removed then days ago). Descending Hogback Mountain I acquired another nice hiking stick and developed the two-stick rhythm. It was faster and much easier on my knees, the trade-off being that it put demands on my upper torso and arms. I'll try two-sticking for a few days and see what happens.

It was a lively and interesting evening at Gravel Springs Hut. When we arrived around 4 P.M., Chieftain, who had left his wife running their limo business in Cambridge, England, was the only one there. He had always wanted to hike the great American AT and the book A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, and other personal factors had made him decide to make the break and do it. He was hiking with an archaic British military issue backpack and cook kit and cooking over a fire but it seemed to do the job just fine for him. He was a very rugged, interesting and enlightening fellow.

Trail Angel "Fannypack and Chieftain" (from the UK) at Gravel Springs Hut

Fannypack was truly one of a kind, a trail angel of the highest magnitude. He popped into the shelter carrying a case of grape soda, boxes of cookies, toilet paper, supplies, and a huge sack of warm sandwiches from McDonalds that he passed out to our group. He was trying to hook up with two other hikers that were somewhere between the last shelter, and ours so he got into his truck to try to catch up to them. Later, unsuccessful, he returned to stay in the shelter with us. It was a continuation of his efforts to work his TRAIL MAGIC on this particular group of hikers and, for us, the beginning of his trail magic for a long way into MD. He worked for a living but managed to take lots of time off to work his generous trail magic his hiker buddies and cover hundreds of miles of trail doing so. More on this saint of a trail angel later.

ElWolfe and Billy Goat joined us, late arrivals at 8 PM. ElWolfe was a little guy from Canada that spoke primarily French but was speaking excellent English as a result of his being on the AT since Springer Mtn, GA. He was charming and a lot of fun. Billy Goat's feet were holding up and he was making good time.

Meeting and sharing time with all these fascinating hikers was one of the rewards of my hiking experience that make all the hardships worthwhile. Hikers, as a group, are some of the nicest, most down-to-earth (no pun intended), ingenious people I have the fortune to know. Through hikers, in particular, endure the most hardship for they must push on regardless of weather, terrain, aches, pain, insects or whatever else the trail may throw at them. They are amazing people and must be admired for their feats.

Daily Journal Entries

~ Journal Part 3~

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