Moore Creek Gap, where I camped last night, must be an owl sanctuary. All night from all directions, multiple owls hooted their calls across the gap. One would hoot, another would echo, and yet another would relay the song across the forest and into the distance. The evening before, I heard coyotes yelping and barking. I was thankful that they sounded to be some distance from the camp. Why is it that hearing owls around your camp is warm and comforting and hearing howling coyotes is scary and threatening? I guess its because one appears to be benevolent and wise while the other appears to be viscous and rabid. Owls eat mice; coyotes eat carrion. Owls hunt alone; coyotes hunt in packs. Owls wear graduation caps and glasses; coyotes paint fake highway tunnels on rock walls in hopes of catching road runners.
You would think that hiking alone would provide ample time to mentally solve all of life’s problems, to praise your Maker for the astounding beauty that surrounds you, to contemplate your place in the universe. But instead, you mostly just think about eating trail mix and how far you may have hiked since you last checked your watch 4 minutes ago. That and trying to remember the lyrics to old Steve Miller Band songs.
Today’s dose of miles took me up and over Wayah Bald. As I emerged from the forest onto a paved walkway, I was surprised to see families with children, teenagers with cell phones, strollers with babies, dogs with leashes, owls with coyotes (you get the idea). The shock of sudden civilization was harsh. It was there that I learned from an Auburn student that they had blown a 20 point lead to lose to LSU the day before. The shock of civilization was VERY harsh.
I targeted Cold Spring Shelter as my stopping point for the evening. I’m going to try sleeping in the shelter tonight, regardless of mice. I’m tired and ready to sleep on a flat solid surface rather than using the hammock for another night. Besides, its forecast to rain all night and I prefer to be under a roof than a tarp for that. I am really trying to push the miles today and tomorrow so that I can get to the car and be off the trail by tomorrow night. The rain will be followed by a cold front with the forecast temperatures dropping to nearly freezing. I arrived at the shelter to find two other hikers there already. They were kind enough to allow me a 4×7 foot space all to myself for the evening.
Doctor Photon