Re: [at-l] Where was I?

["Cora Drake" <cora_drake@hotmail.com>]

Never long enough except if you're measuring by lunchhours, which i spose I 
should.  oo Springer fever's out early this year.  jpj


>From: "Felix J. McGillicuddy" <AThiker@smithville.net>
>To: AT-list <at-l@backcountry.net>
>Subject: [at-l] Where was I?
>Date: Tue, 04 Jan 2000 11:00:47 -0500
>
>Well, are ya ready for an update? It's been nearly ten days since my
>last 'year ago today'. I'll just give ya the highlights. (I guess that
>depends on the perspective):
>
>A year ago the day after the last day I gave you a 'year ago today' was
>the day after Christmas. My sheltermates were sleeping in their tents
>inside Mt. Collins Shelter when I left between 8 and 9. It  was a crisp
>18*. The sky was clear and the trees roared with high winds dancing with
>the branches. I made good time (too cold to stop) to Clingman's Dome.
>Climbing the tower was a very satisfying thing. The highest point on the
>Trail, one of my favorite places on Earth, another landmark
>'accomplished' and what I thought an ominous song in my head (John
>Mellencamp's "Your Life is Now". It was the first time I'd ever heard
>the song, and thought it odd that John was telling me that, perhaps,
>this moment was what it had all been about. Wasn't it?) The wind chill
>on that cement top had to be below zero. I didn't spend much time
>hanging around. I headed back to the Trail with a nice little adrenaline
>rush. I kissed the sign. I always kiss that sign.
>
>Once I got  to lower elevations, the winds died down and the day was
>beautiful. Mid to upper 20's with plenty of sunshine. My favorite hiking
>conditions. I stopped at Derrick Knob for a snack and found a note from
>my  friend Albatross (the same albatross that started another hike a few
>days ago). I had missed him by minutes somewhere along the way. I hiked
>on. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day. I was cruising along and having
>the best time of my life.
>
>The sun was starting to set as I climbed Thunderhead. I picked up the
>pace a bit to see if I could get to the summit in time to see any of it.
>See it I did. As I hiked through the Rhododendron maze that makes up the
>summit of Thunderhead, I noticed the powder-blue sky was clear and
>beautiful. I had no idea what else there was. I got to the pile of rocks
>at summit-proper. I put my right foot on top of the pile and balanced
>myself with my ski poles. As I lift myself up, raising my head above the
>Rhododendrons, I was. That, I believe, was the defining moment of my
>life. That was, I believe, the most, and possibly the only, religious
>moment of my life. It was, without doubt, the most incredible single
>moment of my life. I said "Yes!" I said it again.
>
>I enjoyed things from the pile of rocks for but a few minutes. When I
>stepped off that pile of rocks, I was invincible. I hiked away from that
>pile of rocks feeling like my feet were inches off the ground. What an
>emotional high. I got to Spence Field S. with the plan of stopping if
>someone else was there. It was still light enough to see the new
>bear-bag cables as approached the shelter. No people, no firewood, no
>Felix. As I got back to the AT, as I was making my first steps south,
>toward Russell Field, "Got You Where I Want You" (the song of the hike)
>began. "Yes", I said again. I got to Russell Field feeling good. I took
>my pack off and ate some M&M's while getting things ready for the night.
>"Yo! Felix!" I said to my ownself. "What are you doing? You don't want
>to stop. Hike on. " And, I did. Hiking after dark in the Smokys, running
>on adrenaline and emotion, is an incredible thing. Incredible, indeed.
>When I laid down at Mollies Ridge, at 9:30, I was still wound up. I'd
>love to read my register entry for that day. The best day of my life. A
>day I saw no other human.
>
>I hiked to the Fontana Dam the next day. I hitched a ride to the motel
>with a guy who was stoned. The ride would have been scary enough without
>the added element of drugs in the veins. I made it. It was Sunday and I
>wanted to watch NFL football and take a shower. The black and white
>Philco wouldn't pick up anything, so I took showers. Lots of showers.
>Showers became my hobby.
>
>When the guy that runs the motel dropped me off at the Trail the next
>day, it started sprinkling. It soon began pouring, and did the rest of
>the day. 'twas a miserable day. Ask the group of young boys that were
>there with their fathers. I passed them, about 12 in all, in little
>groups. They weren't having much fun. I hiked on to Stecoah Gap. I was
>very pleased as I began to cross the highway, rain still falling, to see
>a large, hairy man emerge from a small, steamy car. 'twas my good buddy
>Pittsburgh there to see me, and take me to more showers. (Seperate
>showers, mind ya.) After hiking all day with cold water pounding me, I
>couldn't wait to spend a few minutes with hot water pounding me.
>
>The next day was drizzly, overcast, chilly and uneventful. It was
>Tuesday. I called my mom from NOC. It's always good to talk to your mom.
>I took a break at Morgan Shelter and it was dark when I left there for
>Wesser Bald Shelter. Somewhere in between, it started to snow. Temps
>were dropping and it was unpleasant. After I got to the shelter, I
>walked around in the wind-blown snow, looking for a non-existent privy.
>No, I would not have looked had I known it didn't exist. It got very
>cold that night. Cold and windy. My sleeping bag had snow on it the next
>morning.
>
>I made good time to Cold Spring Shelter. Again, it was too cold to stop
>anywhere. It was 15 degrees at the shelter, according to one of the
>college students that were taking up far more than their share of the
>room. I ate a quick snack on the table next to the shelter, and was on
>my way. It didn't snow or rain any on this day, but it never did get
>above 20*.  I ate lunch inside the restroom at Wayah Bald. (Hey, I was
>'resting' in the 'rest'room. Alright?) There were lots of dayhikers out
>on this day. As I neared Winding Stair Gap, I made a deal with myself
>that if somebody was at the parking lot and they offered me a ride, I'd
>take it. I was thinking it was time for another series of showers.
>Before I even got to the road, a woman offered me a night at her house.
>(Well, her husbandido was standing there, too). "Do you have a
>shower?"...
>
>This is where I met the guy I named 'Tank'. Tommy could have Tuckerized
>his pack. All I shall say is he had 13 MREs with him. He was the nephew
>of the people who had given me the ride and place to stay. The next day,
>New Year's Eve, they dropped me off at Winding Stair Gap, and dropped
>Tank off on Springer. It was well past dark when I got to Carter Gap
>Shelter. There was a Marine on leave there. He had a great fire going. I
>stopped for a snack and warmed myself by the fire. He was amazed when I
>put my snack bag away and strapped my pack on. "Where you going?" I told
>him I had to get to the next shelter. "That's 7 miles." "Yeah, I know.
>Happy New Year to ya." I said as I walked away.
>
>I had a blast hiking up Standing Indian Mountain. It was a beautiful
>night and I was listening to a great college football game. (The folks
>who put me up the night before were at this game in Atlanta. I don't
>remember who played.) It was about 10 when I got in bed for the last
>time. I woke up at 11:30 to a group of flashlights shining in the
>shelter at me. When they saw me, they turned and left. I never saw them
>again. I'm guessing it was a group going up to the summit for the New
>Year's countdown. This was the first New Year's that I was asleep at
>Midnight since the early 70's. I didn't mind. Btw, it was cold and there
>was snow on the ground.
>
>New Year's Day was damp and chilly. Not raining. Not cold. Just damp and
>chilly. I met two guys at Plumorchard Gap. We were talking about
>football for some reason.  I said "Hey, did Boomer (Esiaison) say 'No
>shit' on the Monday night game?" One of the guys said "See, I told you"
>to the other. Pittsburgh and I had watched the Monday night game
>together and I was sure that he had said it. I got to Dick's Creek Gap
>in mid-afternoon. I was trying to hitch to Hiawassee when a guy in a
>truck pulled over. I was just about to the truck when he drove away. The
>back of his head is hopefully still burning from the stare I gave him as
>he pulled away. I got a ride and checked in at the jacuzzi-roomed
>Holiday Inn Express. A hot soak and steak dinner later, my buddy
>Pittsburgh was there for more football watching.
>
>The next day was horrible. It was raining or sleeting most of the day. I
>had to get on my hands and knees and crawl across the summit of some
>rocky mountain (Kelly Knob, maybe). I believe I was in Sassafras Gap
>when I took this picture (http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/AT/frozface.jpg)
>My eyelashes were covered in ice.  I trudged on in the muck. I got to
>Unicoi and was glad to find my buddy Pittsburgh there. I wasn't certain
>he would be there. We went to Helen for more showers and pizza.
>
>The next day was just cold and no rain. I cruised along pretty good.  I
>stopped at Blue Mt. Shelter and talked to three kids from Alabama. I
>said "Ain't 'Got You Where I Want You' a great song?" One of the kids
>said "Hey, I saw them in concert New Year's Eve." I thought that was
>cool. The more we talked, the more I found out about them. I actually
>have met their grandmother. she lives in Bloomington. Small world, of
>course.
>
>I hiked on. When I got to Hogpen Gap parking lot, a man there asked me
>if I was 'going camping'. I said "Yup. Couple more days anyway." The
>Trail was covered in chunks of ice for several miles through this
>stretch. As I neared the top of Cowrock Mt., I met a girl that was
>planning a northbound thru-hike for '99. She mentioned that she was on
>an e-mail list. I was trying to figure out what list, as she said it
>wasn't Wingfoot's. I said "Does the name 'Ryan Brooks' sound familiar?"
>"No." "How 'bout Milt Webb?" "No." "Hmmm, how 'bout Felix?" "Yeah, I
>know Felix!!!" I grinned. Shortly after that I had this picture taken on
>Cowrock Mtn (http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/AT/cowrock.jpg) It was about
>5:05 when I got to Neel's Gap. The store was closed. I looked in and
>somebody came over and opened the door. There were three people inside
>counting money and prepping the store for closing. They let me warm up
>and drink coffee. It was FREEZING out. They gave me a can of pop. I
>started up Blood Mt. right at dusk. There were people, and fires, all
>over the rocky summit of Blood Mt. I was listening to the Packers/Niners
>game and the radio and didn't even stop at the shelter. Did I mention
>that it was cold?
>
>I got to the shelter turn-off for Woodshole. I almost passed it because
>there wasn't a sign for southbounders >:-|   I walked for what seemed
>like miles down the blue-blaze. I stopped two times and nearly turned
>around.  When I got to the shelter, I was amazed to find two other
>bodies inside. One was awake. We talked a bit as I was setting up for
>the night. Did I mention it was freezing? I asked if they were just out
>for the weekend. The guy I was talking to said "Naaah. We're
>thruhikers." "Northbounders?" I asked. "No."  "Who the hell are you?" I
>asked, thinking that all the southbounders ahead of me were long gone.
>"I'm QP. That's Windbraker."  "No F***ing way. I've been following you
>guys for 5 months." We had a nice chat that night. I felt like they were
>my long-lost brothers. (I knew that they weren't, however, because my
>long-lost brothers are both in prison) It got down to 5* or less that
>night. 5* is cold.  That, my friends, brings us to a year ago today.
>
>A year ago this morning brought me the most excruciating pain of the 5
>month journey. I had left my boots out over night. They were frozen.
>They were frozen. It took 12 minutes to put them on. Then, there was the
>trip to the privy (stainless-steel-seated privy). It was about 16
>minutes of physical inactivity. My feet were frozen. It took over an
>hour to get the circulation going enough to warm my feet again. They
>hurt so bad that my stomach hurt. Somewhere in that first mile and a
>half, I passed Tank. He was definitely struggling. He said that I was
>right about a lot of the weight he was carrying. I told him to make it
>to Neel's and have Jeff go through it. I hiked most of the day
>leapfrogging with QP and WB. I liked them and liked having someone
>around for a change. Especially someone who was excited about the same
>thing that I was excited about. We spent the night, a year ago tonight,
>together at a fridged Blue Mt. Shelter. Again, it was 5* or less. This
>time, my boots were in my bag. (Footnote: QP's pee bottle from Woodshole
>S. froze and he had to carry a bottle of frozen urine all day. We
>laffed. Well, not QP) Something I shant forget about that night at Blue
>Mt. is this: The Tennessee Volunteers were playing for the national
>championship. QP and WB are from the Knoxville area. The both had
>walkmans and were listening to the game. QP's radio wouldn't pick it up.
>So, WB broke his headphones and gave one earpiece to QP. They snuggled
>up together and cheered as I slept, dreaming of the next day...
>
>Was this long enuff? I could add more...
>
>--
>Felix Navidad
>
>ME-->GA 98
>"Your Move"
>http://Felixhikes.tripod.com/
>
>
>
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