Joker and Marie hitch out of Gatlinburg

April 23, 2000 -- Day 23
Destination: Ice Water Spring Shelter
Today's miles: 4.7
Trip miles: 206.4

Red Pants' name is Brandon. He's here at the shelter, being fed by everyone. He'll be sleeping under the roof tonight. He says this is an Easter he'll never forget.

Brandon tells us this is the first time he's been on trails and off the streets--that he's a novice out here in the woods. When he worried aloud that he'd take up too much space in the shelter, I told him, "No, you're a hiker, too, and you have as much right to be here as I do." But I admit that, two days ago, I was leery of him; he seemed ... spooky. When he came out of the fog behind me while I hiked out of sight of my friends, I hiked faster. But now I'm sitting next to Brandon, who's talking loudly to everyone and laughing and eating and eating. He says he heard there was "some kinda festival in a place called Hot Springs" and hopes he can earn a little money there, or work for food by cleaning up afterwards. I think he's heard people talking about Trail Fest. We told him about Trail Days in Damascus, too.

When we first arrived at this shelter--a beautiful structure, with a skylight and no chain link bear cage across the front--there was a thin, haggard man huddled alone on the ground, while the other hikers sat in the shelter, cooking and looking at him. Or trying not to. Michael, of the couple known as "Michael Anne Jell-O," broke the ice by offering him some coffee, and now the man I called Red Pants has a name and is part of the group. It was amazing to see and feel how much livelier the atmosphere became once people started sharing their extra food and, maybe more importantly, their companionship with a very hungry Brandon. Right now, Brandon is busy gathering firewood and babbling away, very happy to be able to "sleep on the wood" tonight. "I only need like, two planks!" he said. "I'm real skinny!"

As far as the less important aspects of the day....

We got a late start at two p.m. Took about thirty minutes to hitch a ride. The two men who drove us back to the trail are also here at the shelter tonight.

I was full of energy for the mostly uphill hike. Rain and more rain is predicted for the next few days, but we have a clear and cold night tonight, perfect for a campfire and marshmallow-toasting. Friendliest night at a shelter so far. So enough writing. Time to enjoy the company.

--Ramkitten