5/30/06 Tuesday: Bearfence Mtn Hut to Pass Mtn Hut (26.8)

PICTURES:
1. View south from Hazeltop Mtn.
2. This is a first!!! Almost a quarter mile of trail in a straight line with no hills...LOL...
3. My first rattler... He was pretty lethargic... Didnt move a muscle.. I thought he might be dead...
4. I passed by the stables on the way to Skyland.
5. Here is Irish sitting down to lunch at Skyland
6. Views of a section of hwy through SNP from Jewell Hollow Overlook.
7. Just catching my breadth after a long, hot, muggy,day...

Another beautiful day lay ahead... I'm out by 0630 with possible breakfast available at the Big Meadows Lodge eight miles away...:)... I must admit, the thought of a large omlette was first and formost on my mind as I head north... There were some nice vistas on the way but unfortunately the muggy weather brought a lot of haze with it, really adversely affecting the views... Just as I approached the side trail to the Lodge at 0930, I came across a ledge with a rather nice view of a town below. I took a pic and then decided to reserve my room for the following night, since you never know when you can get cell reception out here.. Then, a couple of section hikers I knew stopped by for a break and we chatted a bit. Well about 1010 I decide to head to the Lodge for my omlette...only to find out that the restaurant closed at 1000...:(... I mumble a few unmentionables under my breath and purchased a large snickers bar and a pepsi to go... I got my book out and notice that the next restaurant was another 8 miles away and probably had the same hours as this one so with the time being 1045 I figured no problem... easy to say that when you don't have a map and are completely unaware of the two 500" climbs and falls that stand in your way... Sometimes its just better not knowing...LOL... On my way out of Big Meadows, I ran into Aloha, the 19y/o high school grad from Portland,Me. She had just returned from a visit to the local hospital for dehydration caused by some bug going around... She told me she was also headed for Pass Mtn. Hut and we would probably meet sometime later. I "strolled" into the Skyland Restaurant at 1345 and found they were open till 1430... Plenty of time to spare... I ordered the box lunch to eat on the patio, since I was literally dripping with perspiration at this point, and relaxed on their patio to observe the haze of the day... To bad, they probably usually have a great view there too... Irish walked up at about 1429 as I was finishing, and I quickly directed him to the waiter so he could place his order. He had reservations at the Skyland Lodge, so after chatting for a bit, I bid him farewell, and continued on my way to my final destination, another 9 miles away. A few miles out of Skyland I ran into Aloha again and we walked off and on together for the remainder of the way. We also caught up to Glowworm, who was also recovering from a more mile form of the bug, but also taking it slow today... We all arrived at the Pass Mtn Hut about 1930. I set up my tent, got some water from a great spring, cooked dinner and got reaquainted with a number of the hikers already there, many I had not seen in weeks. About 2130 I turned in for the night...