Rock Gap Shelter

Whoo-ya, now that was a hike! I'm taking another breather after tackling Albert Mtn, the only real climb on my hike today, but what a doozy. Last one-third mile was pretty steep—needed to use my hands getting up the trail. But an excellent cap to what has been my favorite stretch of trail so far, from Beech Gap to Albert Mtn. Great views coming up the mountain, lots of sun-dappled trail, not a lot of up and down, birds a'plenty. Just a real nice, pretty day of hiking. It's 1:30p and I took lunch from noon to 12:30p, started this morning at 9a. Only have three miles to go this afternoon, and all downhill. I didn't see anybody on the trail today until Mooney Gap!

Yesterday was a sea change for me—now I'm walking towards home, not farther from it. Definitely a mood-improver for me. I really miss home: not the food, not Mons Nestus, not the hot water or any one thing, just the whole package, home. I can't wait to see what Greg and Jay did with Jay's room. And while I'm enjoying myself out here tremendously, contemplating what color they painted Jay's walls is even more pleasing.

Well, I missed the campground in the book; now it's 3:30p and I'm at the Long Branch cutoff. I'll stay here even though it's a dry camp. There's water at Rock Gap Shelter, just two miles more, where I can load up tomorrow. But, you know, Rock Gap Shelter is just 2.5 miles away, an hour and a half. Traildancer—the first black hiker I've seen—just cruised by on his way to Wallace Gap. I think I'll rest up, pee, and head on out.

Rock Gap Shelter, 4:45pm I'm here. I was hoping for a tent site, but few suitable sites, which are all taken already. Drat—those shelter floors are hard, and it looks like a few people will come in later from town; their stuff is here. Achilles is here, as is a guy I've seen in the registers, Packman (second black hiker, yeah!). Apparently, Traildancer didn't stop in—Achilles didn't see him and he's not in the register. Two hikers, Lobster and Chowdah from Bangor, are here, too. Lots of graffitti here (as at several shelters past), including "Seniors Rules!"

Maddog and Bloody Stump just grabbed their stuff and moved on, and I see "the Belgian" showed up. Another resident tonight is Hard Time—he's with Stump, who's also here, along with Robert (now Chill Out). The map is out.