[at-l] Sam's Gap -> Damascus 11/23 Day 9

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

11/22 Tuesday. Location - Kincora
23871 steps or about 9 miles in  4.5 hours. About 40 left to Damascus.

Today, I slackpacked from US 321, Wataugua Lake and back to Kinkora. The 
elevation maps show Pond Mtn to be a mesa, but it is simple a nearly 4000 
foot mountain with a long broad summit. I simply carried a bit of lunch - 
cheese and Snickers bars, water and rain gear in a "day pack". That was 
little more than a large book bag with no hip belt to move the weight to my 
hips. It was little weight and little worry. There was a terrific spring in 
the middle of the summit, almost a small artesian well. A newt defended it, 
looking afraid I was going to take all of his water. The the rain and mist 
of the day and past week, I am sure there was more where it came from.

The knee brace surprised me at how much better I handled the downhills and 
such. I passed IceBound as he approached the top of Pond Mtn. He plans on 
going about 18 miles today and tomorrow, and hitting Damascus Thursday AM 
for an anticipated Big Feed.

I got back to Kinkora before 1PM. Bob was impressed. I saw a couple of 
former thru hikers visiting Laurel Falls. I could see some of the damage 
from the Hurricanes, but Bob and his crew had done a terrific job on their 
maintenance. There were a couple of switchbacks with erosion, but nothing 
terribly bad.

I talked with Bob and Pat about how to plan for the next few days as my 
hike ends. I could leave my car at Kinkora, but I'd be facing a $50 shuttle 
from Damascus on the big shopping day. We decided to shuttle the car up to 
Damascus at the Mount Rogers Outfitters(MRO). This worked well for me, as I 
needed to get a new hat as my Peruvian llama wool hat had gone missing. 
Weather is expected to get messy as a storm from Texas and the MidWest was 
making aim at us for tomorrow with a big cold front to push winter air into 
the Southern Appalachians on Thanksgiving. I decided to forego my hammock 
and tart to reduce weight and bulk in my pack. I'm going with my Nomad tent 
that has seen me through storms and blizzards in the past. I have a very 
warm sleeping bag that my wife had given me, so I have little worries.

I drove the back country roads up the valleys to Damascus, stopping in 
Mountain City for a few groceries and resupply. I loved their deli with 
chicken livers. When I got to MRO, Bob was already there, waving my hat at 
me. Somehow, I missed it in the dryer. Parking will cost $2 per day, and 
include a shower on my return! It doesn't take much to make me happy.

So tonight is my 3rd and final night in Kinkora. I'll have to find an 
excuse to get back up here. I have the hostel to myself and here the rain 
begin. I get to admire the week old stubble beginning to reassert itself on 
my head and face. Life is good.

OrangeBug