8/25/06
The Gang gathers at Pin Oak Gap for our first night at Laurel Gap Shelter. A long shuttle deposits the intrepid adventurers at the Balsam Mtn. Trail.
Beth and
Bill arrive at the trail junction with a little extra baggage. Apparently
the yellowjackets got stirred by the person ahead of them.
Smooch and Bill rally after their bee stings. Dave cooks something again. Martin fetches my water. George thinks he is at a disco.
The
Speed Team races to TriCorner and makes the 7 miles in 3 hours. Not bad
for a bunch of tenderfeet.
I explain to
George that it is easier "sans pack".
Clark shows up
after a night of Natty Love Joying. He sure was not joyous about the hike
up Snake Den Ridge. Glad you could make it Clark.
Highlanders
assist the Ridge Runner with moving the Privy. I decided that it needed to
be repositioned and enlisted the gangs assistance to orient more toward the
morning sun so I could read a magazine.
Again, not
quite to my specs so a little repositioning will be required.
"Whatever!"
We were not
alone in the shelter.
Balsam
High Top from base of Guyot.
Deer
Creek Helipad. Dave awaits the Copter but none arrives. George makes
another cell phone call but to no avail.
wreckage of a
fighter jet off Inadu Knob.
Mr. Good Omen
observes our descent down Snake Den Ridge.
Some cooling of
the heels at Inadu Creek.
Bigfoot print.
A great ending for a wonderful Highlander adventure.