Ugh! Finally at Derrick Knob Shelter for lunch and advil replentishment. It's a mostly sunny, warm day. Changing into sandals, eating, getting more water. If this keeps up I will run out of advil much sooner than later. It's 5.5 miles to Silers Bald, which'd put me in around 5:30pm, but sets me up well for Clingman's Dome tomorrow. That's the plan.
Silers Bald Shelter, 7:30pm Pulled in around 6pm. It's raining here and thundering in the distance. It's still light. Everyone at Silers Bald has eaten and is settling in for some reading, writing, and fussing in the last light. It's me, two local hikers just doing the Smokies, and Joe and Mike (Joe and Mike pulled into Mollies Ridge about an hour after I did). They're from Philly, or Pittsburgh. Something like that! An oil company executive and a chemical engineer. Huh—they don't really want to talk about work.
The hip is a problem. I don't know what to do other than lighten my load, which I do with every meal. Oh, the stove. It's okay. I love the light weight, cost, and that I can buy fuel just about anywhere. But, it takes a while to boil water. I've tried boiling enough water for dinner and tea together, but it takes too long. Plus, I burned a hole in the brand new table at Silers Bald! I don't think anyone noticed.
Bears seen today: 0.
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