Start: Max Patch Road (AT mi 254.7). Stop: Davenport Gap Shelter (AT mi 238). Today’s miles: 16.7 miles. Total AT mileage: 1955.1 miles.
I got out of bed easier this morning compared to yesterday, but I still didn’t want to. I wonder how long this trip would take if I took a zero every morning I didn’t want to wake up.. haha. Yeah right.. I’d never have left my house if that were the case. Lizard and I were packed and ready, breakfast in hand to eat in the car on the way to Max Patch Road, when Sunshine came to get us at 8am.
It was cooler this morning than yesterday, and we ended up in our jackets early on. Lizard led and I followed, we talked for awhile and then just hiked together, both listening to audiobooks. I enjoy that, hiking along together-she slightly ahead of me, but close enough to talk if there’s something to say, but not having to fill a void and force conversion at all. Lizard is both easy to talk to and easy to simply be around, even when talking isn’t required.
During a big climb of the day, close to 4 miles in the making, we stopped to eat lunch near the top. From there it was all downhill for Lizard, who was getting picked up by SoFarSoGood at a road crossing at the bottom of the mountain. She’d be going to visit Hannah for the weekend, and I’d be hiking another 3-4 miles uphill to my first shelter in Smoky Mountain National Park.
The downhill to that road seemed to take forever, and it was chilly out. We made it to the road just after 2pm, took our packs off and plopped down to rest. I stayed and waited with her, knowing that this is probably the last time I’ll see her until she finishes the trail. Her zeros to go home will put her behind me, and I’m not planning on taking any zeros between now and finishing. This made me incredibly sad, because I’ve liked having my friend back, to hike with, to talk to.. going into the Smokies alone feels a little scary, honestly. But I know we’ll both be fine.. it’s not like we haven’t made it this far going through way worse on our own.
SoFarSoGood arrived and we all hugged and said our byes and be safes.. they drove off and I hiked on, jacket off since I knew I’d be climbing. Within a mile I was crossing a bridge and the I40 underpass when a cute black and brown dog started following me. She was sweet, licked my hands as we walked, but made me nervous as hell. She came when I called her, when cars came flying by on the road she was just prancing around on. She seemed happy but skinny, and she had no collar on.
I saw her trot down the road when I turned to go up the trail, but minutes later I felt something wet on my hand and looked down to see her there, hiking along side me. Crap. She stayed right by my side, never stepping ahead. When I climbed rock steps, she patiently waited for me to get up a few before joining me. She crossed creeks with no problem, and I started to worry. I didn’t have any food for her, and I was about to be walking into the Smoky Mountains.
I called mom when I had service. She called the rangers station for me, and called me back to say there was nothing they could do. Frustrated, I called my friend Hayley, the pupper saver guru. She calmed me down just by talking with me. We decided I could feed her some peanut butter, and try to call local animal shelters and see what they could do. Crazily enough, I ended up passing another road crossing! I had a mile to go to get to the shelter, so I wasn’t expecting another road crossing. I called 4 different shelters and rescues, one giving me the none emergency number for the police station. They transferred me to the on call animal control lady.
She was sweet, but not helpful. I told her exactly where I was with the pup-and mentioned that now she was walking with a limp and protecting her right front paw. She said she couldn’t get someone out to us tonight.. I explained that I’m hiking and couldn’t stay here.. while our conversation went on and was going no where, hikers passed me. They all looked at me like I was nuts for not having my dog on a leash. I finally hung up with the woman and tried to talk these hikers into taking her to the shelter. The one seemed apprehensive.. I went into a whole rant about how she’s hurt and sweet and if they don’t she’ll die out here and obviously if I had a car I’d do it myself but clearly I don’t… bla bla
They finally gave in with a “well if she’ll even follow us..” and I silently prayed she would. Several minutes of talking and explaining where to take her, they walked away and the man called to her and she followed-after glancing at me. I nodded to her and said, “go” and off she went. I started up the trail again, looking down every few seconds expecting to see her. I won’t lie, I miss her now as I type this. I pray they got her there safely and didn’t abandon her after I was gone and they reached their car. I don’t have service to call and check in.. I got their number and they have mine-plus I have the number to the on call lady.
Anyway, at 5:15 I got to the shelter-officially in the Smokies now! The shelter has a loft and a fenced gate across the front of it, to protect from bears apparently. It’s a little creepy honestly. My claustrophobia doesn’t like it-and there’s no flat space to tent nearby, so the shelter it is. I picked the bottom right corner to set up. A father and son (10 years old and absolutely adorable) have the top left side. I got water and ate dinner talking with them, and having him tell me all about this first camping trip they’re on. He is loving it!
Not long after I finished eating, 2 younger women showed up. This is their first backpacking trip, and they’re learning the hang of things. Then, 3 guys showed up-they are section hiking too, but it’s not their first rodeo. I listened to everyone chatting away, offering in a giggle every now and then when the boy would say, “daddy, there sure is a lot of people here now.” No kidding, kid-I don’t like all the people either.
They attempted to start a fire for quite awhile-and failed. I got comfortable in my sleeping bag and set to work writing this up instead of offering any assistance. Fires aren’t my thing.. and as cold as it is, I’m warm and cozy in this sleeping bag. It’s almost 7pm and I’m already about to put in my earplugs and call it a night. I’ll be attempting to get up early tomorrow. I have a long day with a full pack and an early setting sun.. I’ll have to get a move on.
Alrighty, I’m off to do just that. Goodnight y’all.