Dates ........ Sunday, April 21, 2002
Miles ........ 8.5 miles
From ........ Hawk Mountain Shelter
To ............. (new) Gooch Gap Shelter
Weather ... Partly cloudy, 60's in AM, upper 70's PM, hazy, humid, breezy.

Sunday, April 21, 2002

Justus Mountain GA 3224', Sasafras Mt. GA 3336', Blackwell and Justus Creeks.

Early in the morning, before sunrise, lying in my tent I heard the distinct rhythmic thumping of a ruffed grouse. It sounded like an old John Deere two-cylinder starting up. Early morning latrine duties force me to be an early riser on the trail, usually around 5:30. Dan and I knocked our camp down and joined the Scouts for breakfast. I had my usual pop tarts, granola bar, and quart of water. The scout's leaders shared tea with us. We were the first to hit the trail, though we were late getting out at 9:30. The scouts would be heading back home today, finishing a circuit hike that would take them back to their vans. They spent a lot of time playing chess. After breakfast, they packed up. They were a good group of kids and they had nice leaders.

Scout troop at Hawk Mountain shelter

We descended into Hightower Gap then hiked the ridge leading into Horse Gap where a small group of scouts were trail running, sans packs, the ridges. We climbed the ridge to Sassafras Mt. and could see the water tower, guide lights and landing strip at Camp Merrill, the US Army ranger camp. We could hear timed and machine gunfire as we crossed the ridge. I found a live .308cal blank and several empty .223 blanks just off the trail, evidencing the army ranger's use of the area for training. Toadshade (Red Trillium), pink lady slippers and wild columbine were in bloom along the trail. As well as enough poison ivy to make trail life miserable for anyone unfortunate enough to contact it. We were very careful where we sat and where we set our backpacks when we took breaks.

Dropping into "Devil's Kitchen" and Justus Creek, we could feel the heat and humidity sap our energy. At the creek we met Mongoose, and another section hiker relaxing under the shade of a large pine tree. We took a short break, ate some trail mix and drank some water before moving on. Less than a mile up the trail, Dan and I came to Blackwell Creek. It was about 8 feet wide and running a foot or more deep, crystal clear and cold. The heat and humidity and grime of being on the trail two days in this hot, sticky weather finally got to us. We could no longer resist. I got out some soap and shampoo and we took a very refreshing and well-earned dip in the cool water. It felt so good to lie down on the rocky streambed and let the cold water run over our bodies and be clean again. It was so hot we put our wet clothes back on and finished our hike to Gooch Gap shelter, letting the clothes dry as we hiked.

At the shelter we met Paul "El Toro", a spunky hiker giving his seriously blistered feet a much-needed rest. Mongoose joined us shortly afterward. The shelter was brand new and equipped with the latest in bear cables. (A cable and pulley system allowing food to be hung high in the air between two trees, out of bruin's reach.) After a lively evening of cooking, trail talk and story sharing, Dan and I took the shelter's upper loft while Mongoose and Paul slept below.

Dan "the goat", Mongoose, and Paul "El Toro" at the new Gooch Gap shelter