April 1, 2000

Allen Gap, NC · 15 Miles Hiked Today · 286 of 2167 Miles Hiked Total

Snake! Saw my first "cool" beast today coming out of Hot Springs, near Lovers Leap Rock. It was a five foot long black snake laying halfway across the trail sunning itself. I almost stepped on it before I saw it. Being curious, of course I touched it. It started to leave and then I coaxed it along so that other hikers wouldn't kill it. Not everyone is snake-friendly.

The rest of the day passed with out too much incident until this afternoon. Two guys that I am hiking with had their water purifier/filter handle break off. It was so hard to pump they could barely push it and it snapped. Now the trick for them is where they can get a new one. Luckily they have backup iodine pills and are staying the same place I am tomorrow, so are able to use my filter. I also offered them my iodine pills in the case we need to split up.

Our campsite tonight sucks. It is 50 feet from a highway, but what is the choice but hike a lot farther? It seems like a quiet road and we are mostly hidden by trees from the speeding cars.