April 12, 2000

Abingdon Gap Shelter, TN · 16 Miles Hiked Today · 445 of 2167 Miles Hiked Total

Today is the one month anniversary of my hike - 443.7 miles. I think I have what it takes to make it but only time will tell.

Last night I finally met some folks I had been looking to meet - Snax, Tang, Boo-Boo, Wolf, Buck-eyed Bob, and Tin Cup. They are probably the coolest group I have stayed with and hiked with. I had already met Grinder.

The weather that didn't hit yesterday hit last night. So we hiked wet and rested wet. The only "cool" thing was the Nick Grandstaff Monument. He supposedly went west to get rich, got robbed, and came back to the mountain where he lived for 40 years. His tombstone says "Lived alone, suffered alone, died alone." I hope mine says something better than that when I finally give it up.

Half of the group decided to keep going past the shelter to reduce the miles into town. Grinder, Tin Cup, Ping-Pong, and I decided to stay and enjoy a nice fire. We're going to get up at 5:00 and catch them or scare them or pass them and wait for them in town.