Dates ........ Wednesday September 26, 2001
Miles ........ 8.3 miles, climb 1100 feet
From ........ Double Springs Shelter (Holston Mt.)
To .............Abingdon Gap Shelter
Weather ... Cold 27 degF, clear, breezy. Afternoon warmed to 40's.

Wednesday September 26, 2001

Double Springs Gap (4080'), Locust Knob (4020'), McQueens Knob (3885')

The sun came up on a very cold, crisp morning with me staying in my warm sleeping bag again. After my morning duties (use the shovel/privy) I crawled back into the sleeping bag and listened to public radio. Now, they were back to their regular programming for the most part, with NPR news and many of their programs dedicated to updates and information related to the terrorist incidents. I enjoyed being able to listen to classical music, again. All the other stations in this part of the country are hard rock, country or gospel. Not my style.

I met two southbound section hikers and their dog. We talked for a while, traded trail condition information and discussed the terrorist attack news. It seemed I was able to keep up with the news better than they were able to.

I tried reducing my level of clothing but soon found that I had to stay bundled up to keep warm on this brilliantly sunny but very cool day. I dropped into Low Gap (one of several "Low Gaps" on this hike) and US 421. A couple parked in a pickup truck were talking and quite curious about my solo hiking. They seemed nice enough so I took my time and answered their questions. Just after I left the road crossing and got back on the trail, there were Tennessee Wildlife Management area and Bear Reserve signs right on a post along with an AT blaze. It was the same as when I started 220 miles ago. Translated, it meant hikers be on the alert for bears, or bears be on the lookout for hikers! I've had some bear encounters on the AT but no problems. Yet.

Clearing provides glimpse of Mount Rogers VA (summit in the clouds) - where I hiked this spring.

I had only 8.3 miles to hike and very little climbing, so why hurry. The closer I got to my pickup date, the more anxious I was to get home. I reached a clearing on McQueen's Knob and took advantage of the grass there to take a long break, sitting in the sunshine. Its warmth felt good. When I resumed my hike I went past an old shelter - first built on the AT in 1934 that had been preserved and was still useable, though it had no water source nearby.

Old McQueen's knob shelter.

I reached the Abingdon Gap shelter at 3 PM. Getting water was a steep, long hike into the valley. I took my time. This shelter was one of the few that had a register, so I stretched out on my sleeping pad in the sunshine and read it. I was going to have a hard time coming up with worthwhile shelter register quotes for this hike.

I built a fire to burn all the trash that someone had so nicely left behind, and then I ate super, listened to the radio and turned in for what promised to be another cold night. Only 10 miles to go to Damascus Virginia and the end of this hike.

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