[at-l] Sam's Gap -> Damascus 11/18 Day 4

[thornel at attglobal.net (W F Thorneloe)]

11/18 Thursday night, Greasy Creek Friendly. Pedometer - 23,071 steps, 
about 9.3 miles between 7:30AM and 2PM.

The Greasy Creek Friendly is a fairly new hostel down the hill from Greasy 
Creek Gap. Greasy Creek apparently got it's name from the tendency of 
hunters to clean and process killed bears in the gap, letting the bear's 
fat/grease run into the creek. Keep that image of the area.

Today was about as miserable as any I've had on any trail. First, rain 
began in the early morning and continued throughout the day. This led to 
mist, cool piercing wind and a bunch of hills. Did I ever mention that 
hypothermia ain't so bad once you stop shivering?

I found plenty of water. I had a nice brief visit to the Cherry Gap 
Shelter. However, the conditions tended to magnify the hills and the 
climbs. Any thought of dropping into Greasy Creek Friendly, grabbing my 
mail drop of food and heading back up to the trail was hopeless.

I was beat in 9 miles, with about a 1 mile hike down hill and a pretty 
steep 600 foot drop. I think my thought of trail legs was very premature. I 
really dread tomorrow's climb up Roan Mountain. I had sent myself _way_ too 
much food. I left the dehydrated stuff I had done, including pears, apples, 
tenderloin but kept my peaches. Snickers were a keeper. I was able to leave 
some noodle dinners behind as it looks like I should make it back to 
Kinkora in just another 3 or 4 days.

I dried my tarp as best as possible. Water pressure wasn't all that good, 
but they aren't exactly on city water, but take it from a spring and use a 
reservoir. Washed and dried clothes, chatting with PackratCC about Clemson 
years, his wife's (CC) job, the crazy neighbor across the dirt road, 
politics of running a hostel and dealing with the Forest Ranger and others, 
Chestnut blight and a bunch of stuff. As soon as CC returned home, we 
turned on the VCR to catch Dr. Phil. This was and "education" as Packrat 
was a bit upset with the male baiting of the crowd and I was amazed at the 
blind stupidity of the adulterous doctor, the sullen wife, the screaming 
kids and the clueless pregnant nurse girlfriend. They couldn't make this 
stuff up. The hostel was as noisy as Kincora was calm and quiet. At least 
the crazy neighbor didn't take any potshots at the house or the guests 
while I was there.

It was an interesting way to run an hostel. Everything was itemized, 
including extra charges if you used a blanket. Washing was free. Leaving 
food in the hiker box was free. They did have some basic food resupply at a 
reasonable fee. Food for supper and breakfast was itemized. The cost of $26 
made Kincora and Miss Janet look like huge bargains, but really wasn't so 
bad given the conditions I fled from on the trail. I understand that during 
the hiker season, they stay in a separate unheated shed. I stayed in the 
house with a huge wood stove for heat.

This was part of the trail experience.

OrangeBug