Mar 13

DAY #11
START LOCATION: Plumorchard Gap Shelter
FINISH LOCATION: Standing Indian Shelter
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 12.2
TRIP MILEAGE: 84.2
MILES TO GO: 2,094.9

Awesome thunderstorm at the Plum last night! Brilliant lightning and
all. We had an ultralighter roll in at about 8pm. He was coming from
LOW GAP! Yes, scroll down a few posts... The guy went 30 miles. We
found out later he's got van support. Cheater.

Out early with the short rest day yesterday. I felt awesome and the
storm made way for some broken sun and cool temps. I cooked... I hit
the GA/NC border by 10AM. A few of the other guys, Research, Hollywood
and Scruffy rolled by and we took pictures at the sign. Scruffy even
took a celebratory drink. Good times were short lived however. North
Carolina then proceeded to pull our shirts over our heads and beat us
with a sock full of nickels. Thousand foot climb, more ice, more mud
and 3" of hail/snow mix which by the time of this writing... 8PM, was
not finished.

We had lunch at Muskrat Creek Shelter. Glad I didn't stay there... A
dump...Littered, holes in the floor and no snow protection. So we made
the push up Standing Indian mountain which, given the conditions,
arrived quickly. I felt fantastic on my longest day yet... I'm
switching gears great, breathing is great, the pack is starting to
feel like an extension of my body and I'm definitely trimming down.

I was hoping to find an totem Indian holding cigars at this shelter,
but to no avail. This shelter is only slightly less a dump. Still not
good enough to sleep in... I'm tenting and so are 3 other guys. But
it's nice. I'm listening to some folky, bluegrassy country music on
the gloriously commercial break devoid WFQS 91.3. Besides the 29
degree temp and snow falling up here at 4,760 feet... I do feel like
I'm in The Carolinas. And it's great to be here.

-n8dog