Day 12

Mon. Sept. 8 Curley Maple Gap Shelter to Cherry Gap Shelter 12 miles Weather: beautiful Today was pretty interesting. I woke up late at 8:30 and took my usual 2 hours to get on the trail. Hiking was great except that with every uphill, I would be drenched in sweat. The first of the landmarks I came to today was the aptly named Beauty Spot. This was a bald on top of the ridge that looked out over quite a view. It was far too hazy to get a good picture. If you focused hard enough you could always see another mountain beyond the one you thought was the furthest. It was definitely hot though. I rolled out my sleeping pad and laid in the sun for at least two hours. Very relaxing, but I think I got my shoulders a little pinked. After that I climbed up the wonderfully unique Unaka Mountain. Right on top of this mountain is an evergreen forest that is mesmerizing. They were so thick and uniform that it was kind of like being in a never ending forest. The pictures I took definitely don't capture the enchantment the place held. I found out later that Shadow waited up there for me, but my siesta at Beauty Spot put me far behind him. I had to push myself to make it to the shelter before dark. There were two men here when I showed up, haven't talked to much yet. I had my first freeze-dried meal of this trip tonight, and it was worth every cent. Beef stew with big chunks of beef, potatoes, carrots and peas. And of course, thick gravy over all of it. It is a beautifully clear sky in the small patch of sky I can see straight above me. I'm tempted to sleep out under the stars if it wasn't for the distant flashes of lightning I can see. It can rain all it wants every single night I'm out here. I need to get up early so that I can have a little flexibility to make it to High Top. Then again, there's a hostel not too far away if it is raining all tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing well and having a wonderful time. Night! High: walking through an enchanted forest Low: beard isn't hanging down to my waist yet