May 10th: Cornelius Creek Shelter

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We had three late arrivals into camp last night. I was tickled when he asked if
I was a Thru Hiker. He was unsure because he said I was "Too clean" to be a Thru
Hiker. I had done some hygiene before he arrived, was clean shaven, and smelled
good. We had a small visitor in the tent about 2AM. I had left the zipper open
just enough for Mr. Mouse to come in for a look around. The only problem was my
melon was directly inline with said opening. As Mr. Mouse made his ingress he
bumped the top of said melon waking me up. Startled, I grabbed the headlamp for
a look-see. Mr. Mouse knew the gig was up and hurriedly searched for an egress
point. He dashed around the outside edge of the floor looking high and low for
the way out. The light was on him and he was in a panic! He edged behind CC who
slept the sleep of the dead. Mr. Mouse danced lightly behind CC's head, found the opening in the door and was free at last! CC started to gain a level of
wakefulness and asked what was going on. I told her about the mouse and she seemed uninterested, closed her eyes, then the sleep of the dead returned. This totally amazed me! When I told her later in the morning she was aghast saying she thought I said there was a spider in the tent.
Some of the people rolled out as early as 5:30AM, not us. We were up about
6:30AM and cleared camp by 8:30. There was also quite the sight in our camp. Our
tent is made by Mountain Safety Research. The fly is a bright orange. Our tent
is the three person model. In one camp there was the 1-2 and 3 man version of
the same tent. Then about 9PM two other MSR tents of different models showed up.
Come sun up we looked like an MSR ad. I took a couple of pictures for shameless
commerce purposes, like selling them to the company.
The day started with a climb up Highcock Knob. The elevation gain was 1,700'
in the first mile. Then down to Archie's Notch elev 2,760' then lower still to
Petites Gap elev 2,350'. 3,685' over Thunder Hill to the Thunder Hill shelter at
3,960'. After 6.9 miles we stopped here for a quick lunch then off for the last
5 miles. Shortly after leaving the shelter we entered a living arbor of
Rhododendrons that lasted for about one quarter mile. They were not in bloom but
their tangled, twisted, and intertwined trunk system was something right out of a scary movie. About a mile past the shelter we walked under "The Guillotine."
There is a large boulder suspended over the trail. I took a picture of CC
walking under it. From there almost to the top of Apple Orchard Mtn there are
some very well laid stone steps, craftsmanship not seen much today in public,
let alone out in the middle of a wilderness area on a trail. The view from the
top of this mountain was excellent even though there was quite a bit of haze. From the top it was 4 miles and 1,100' of elevation lost to the Cornelius Creek Shelter to end a 12.2 mile day.
The temps are getting very warm and I was sweating all day. I sucked the last of my 3 liter water bag dry about half a mile from the shelter. The high point of the day was around noon. CC has been watching the Red Trillium for a week. We would see the odd blossom but nothing worth taking photos of. Today as we huffed up one of the mountains we came around a corner and were blessed, the entire
hillside was covered with flowering Trillium. It reminded us of "The Wizard of
Oz" and continued for the next half mile. Many photos were taken :-)
The traffic on the trail was heavy. We saw over a dozen northbounders and
almost that many section and day hikers. We met two very seasoned citizen ladies
at an overlook. They have been chipping away at the AT since 1988. They have
just a small bit here in VA and then from MA north. They had to be in their
early 70s. Some of the folks we met today: Low Gear, Big Gulp, Walnut, Cheese,
Widow Maker, Foot Pump, Sublime, Sticks, Gadget, Beach Bum (he had an awesome
flowered shirt on), Fatigue and Lady Slipper (the seasoned citizens), Johnny
Mudd, Feidel, Blow Out and BooBoo, Iceman and Fly Away here at the shelter.
No tent tonight as there is a chance of thunder showers. Iceman scared up the
shelter mice before it started getting dark. The young small one has eluded
danger, however the older larger one was dispatched swiftly by me as it nibbled
on spilled Tang powder under the picnic table. A late update after we had gone
to bed the smaller mouse dared cross near my sleeping place. I heard his little
toe nails scratching across the wood floor. I slowly picked up one of CC's
"Crock" shoes and waited until the little beggar was silhouetted and dispatched
him as with the other one. I feel I have gained retribution for the incursion
into our tent the night prior by the mouse clan. I suppose for the remainder of
the trip it will be a "Hatfield vs McCoy" battle until we are safely north of
the Mason Dixon Line.
Tomorrow we will try and make the Cove Mountain Shelter with a stop at Jennings
Creek for a swim (if the day is hot enough says CC).
Patrick, Deborah Mooney aka OD & CC
All Who Wander Are Not Lost

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