February 13, 2008

Today’s miles: 14.2

I woke up to a lot of rain (light, constant) last night and a wet tent in the morning. When I was packed up, I walked down to the Pinnacle to see if I could get a better view than yesterday (ie. more than a white-out) and I got some clouds interspersed with mountains which was enough for me.

Down the trail (lots of muddy logging road rock-walking today). It thankfully didn’t rain at all today. I weaved up and down (villicination – is that the GRE word?) and around the ridge to the path up to Dobson Knob and Bald Knob. The path was uphill but pretty gradual, and I enjoyed the walk. At the top of the mountain, I got some nice views of up-and-coming mountains! The one cloaked in clouds in the distance – I think that’s probably Mt Mitchell. And then, on my windy, switchback-full climb down from the Bald, the sun came out and the clouds dissipated into the distance and I was graced with a lovely chilly sunny afternoon.

I climbed down all the way (by what seemed like kind of a circuitous route…) to the Catawba River / RR tracks, where I ran into two dogs and a man – we waved – and sat down to dry out my tent, have lunch, and read some of Guns, Germs, and Steel. At this rate, I am going to need a new book by Asheville. I stayed for about an hour (just getting into the North America colonialization part!), then took my stuff and climbed gradually to a few lookout points (clear-cut areas. I wonder what the point of a clear-cut is, if you don’t take the timber?). And then down on switchbacks to this wildlife field where I am tented.

I am really excited for town (and food!) tomorrow. I don’t think that I will get a shower, or do laundry, but at least I will be full and get a cup of coffee.

It is a done by 3:30 pm kind of afternoon – “exceptionally strenuous” my ass. I haven’t talked to a soul again today, but I did see that man in the distance.