PINEFIELD GAP HUT

View from Pinefield Gap Hut

November 15, 1997

Sweet Surrender and I hiked from Hightop Mountain Hut to Pinefield Gap Hut today. Only about 8.5 miles. We figured Sister Smiles and Scott should be here tonight so we didn't move on. But no sign of them yet.
It was a beautiful day today. Everything was covered in about 1/8 inch thick layer of ice when we woke up. It was awesome watching and listening to it all melt as we hiked. Huge chunks of ice were falling all over the place. It could definately be dangerous though, if you just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and a huge icicle fell on your head from a tree. It was, however, extremely cold last night and this morning. So cold that I had a really hard time sleeping. We saw a couple of day hikers today and they turned around and walked the other way when they saw us. Humm?

People really need to learn the definition of leave no trace backpacking! It seems pretty self explanatory to me, but some people just can't grasp it. They also need to learn what can and can't burn. It seems like common sense to me that aluminum foil doesn't burn, hence, you don't throw it in the fire pit. It really sucks having to pick up and carry out other peoples garbage, as if I don't have enough of my own. Mom saw a bear today. I had hiked ahead so I missed him. I would really like to see one though.

November 18, 1997

I met back up with Sister Smiles and Scott in Waynesboro. We did laundry, re-supplied, and stopped at the Outfitters, and, as usual, we got a really late start hiking out and only went like 3 miles and camped.

November 19, 1997

We went about 15 miles today planning on stopping at Rusty's. We have heard so much great stuff about him and have been looking forward to this for a while. However, when we got there, there was a sign that looked like it had been put out this morning saying, NO DOGS ALLOWED, so we hiked on. We were a little disappointed, but what can you do?! But hike on! It was a pretty nice incline to the shelter from Rustys. It's been a beautiful day out, but it is still so cold that I can't even describe it. We've been waking up to a frozen layer of condensation on our tents and frozen water bottles. Hiking in the winter is definately a whole new experience. We pitch our tents with the rain flies and put them in the shelters, since we're the only freaks out here at this time of year we don't have to worry too much about taking too much space in the shelters. I wear basically all my clothes(except my hiking clothes, unless its exceptionally cold) to sleep in, which consists of a layer of double weight long johns, super thick fleece pants and a big fleece sweater, two pairs (at least) of socks, my gloves and my knit beanie. And I sleep all the way in my sleeping bag with it all the way closed around my head so I can try and keep as much warm air in as possible. Sky has 2 sweaters that she wears and a big fleece blanket that we wrap around her. Then we both huddle around her to keep her warm as possible. And still with all this we often lay awake at night, too cold to even sleep. I think its something that everyone should get the chance to experience.

Write Pedro

hearnr@fiu.edu

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