Day 34 - 4th May - Little Laurel Shelter to Flint Mt. Shelter - 12.7 miles

We have now covered 304 miles since the start of the trail, and feeling invincible. It is a wonderful day, walking a rocky ridgeline with great sweeping views over the plains below, to towns whose names we don't know. It is hard climbing over steep rock slabs with heavy packs, and we travel slowly. It takes us 4 hours to travel 5 miles.

This ridge was hard work to negotiate

The number of hikers is dropping off - today we see less than 10 people. One of the people we meet again is Mountain Camel, who had been walking with Diesel in the early days. You may recall that Diesel had Parkinsons Disease. We learn from Mt. Camel that Diesel dropped out after a day in the Smokies because he had run out of medication, and was not able to get a resupply, and had the shakes so badly he almost dropped off one of the steep cliffs. Mt. Camel is hoping to complet the whole trail, but is claiming bits of the trail he had already walked in the last 12 months as completed, and not needing to be walked again. Some of the 'pure' hikers were challenging his claims as a true thru-hiker. Mt Camel is very defensive. Welcome to the world of trail politics.

We find a bear print, but no bear.

We pass the famous 'Shelford' graves on the descent to the shelter. This is our first introduction to the Civil War. Two young soldiers fighting for the union are killed when they try and return home to see their family in the south, in 1863. We learn that the war is  not as clear cut as north vs south. Plenty of people in the sth fighting for the nth and vice versa.

The Shelford graves are still maintained by their descendants

We set up our tents at Flint Mt Shelter, and Stickbuilt and Tater Chip arrive to camp. We have not seen them since the 24th April, when they left the trail to visit Gatlinburg and meet up with their spouses. We enjoy their company. Stucco cruises in at about 6pm, but she won't stop. She has already walked 21 miles today, but thinks she can squeeze another mile or so before it gets dark. I am sad that we will not get to share her company. She is a driven woman!

Stickbuilt and Tater Chip

Flint Mt Shelter

In the middle of the night, around 1.00am a group of young men arrive, and with much noise and disruption to all those asleep, proceed to make camp. We call them 'the night-stalkers'. They are completely inconsiderate of everybody else - they feel so pumped up, having walked through the night by torchlight - they are so 'brave'. I make a promise to myself to make as much noise as possible when I depart in the morning.