13 April Saturday – Siler Bald Shelter to Cold Spring Shelter [11.6 miles]

Administrative note:  Some of you may have noticed that I capitalize the word ‘Trail’.  Please know that I am aware that this is a proper noun violation in that the Appalachian Trail, a clear proper noun, has been truncated.   Therefore, does it shed it’s right to a capital letter via that truncation?  The point is moot;  I instead rely on the informal culture of being able to capitalize those things that are so immediately important and central to one’s life that their life revolves around it, and it defines them.  Thus engaged with the ‘Trail’, I claim that right.  ‘God’ is a good example of this, also, since it fails the ‘entity’ test of the definition of a Proper Noun. As a more clear example, consider my brother Keith.  He would be well within his rights -believe me- to capitalize the letter ‘C’ when in correspondence he uses the word ‘couch’.

Nice Hike today.  

Decent weather, and I think 11.6 miles was good for the terrain- we do nothing but climb mountains and hills: up and down.  It would be a F$&@ing pleasure to walk across a parking lot.  (Think of that the next time you can’t get a parking space right close to your gym.  [Editor’s note:  Wha… ?]) 

By the way, Siler Bald Shelter was way, way off the Trail!  Usually they’re much closer to the Trail!  I felt violated by the ‘Shelter’ sign the same way I feel when I pull off the highway because of a McDonald’s sign and you have to go way, way too far to get there!   Doesn’t any law govern that situation?   

You have two choices in the McDonald’s scenario, and I’ve opted for both at various times.  

1.). Punt.  At some point, you stop saying ‘ok- just to the next goddamned corner and if I don’t see it…’ and so you turn around, are back on the highway, and are truly disgruntled.  And you grunt contemptuously about that situation and the world in general, and it puts a little stain on your heart that stays – like a tattoo.

2.). You finally get to McDonald’s.  You walk in begrudgingly and you broadcast your begrudgment with exquisitely nuanced body language.  Then, while eating the burgers and fries back on the highway, you’re happy as shit.

Saw this snail today, had a brief chat, – turns out he’s Thru-Hiking the Trail too!!!  I didn’t have the heart to raise the obvious issue.

Turned a corner and the mountainside was covered with this field of wildflowers!  It was arresting- zoom in close to really see the wildflowers…

This greenery looked good enough to eat.

Cool caterpillar.  (He’s not Thru-Hiking.)

This was a neat area of old-growth looking moss covered trees.

This movie is from the Summit of Siler Bald Mountain.

Got to Cold Spring Shelter-  nice little place with a stream, and privy, and fire ring all close.  Built in 1930- one of the originals!