Trail Journal 05.11.02

At Moreland Gap Shelter after 10.7 miles from Campbell Hollow Road.  Hard, up and down trail--took longer to get here than I first estimated.  Took close to an hour of sit down breaks, including a half hour at Laurel Fork, a beautiful, strong running creek spanned by a nice foot bridge and surrounded by rhododendron and hemlock thickets.  I wanted to camp there but saw no good spots.  Took from 8:15 to 2:45 to [reach Moreland Gap].  Went slow and steady on the long up hill climbs.  Got in with no falls or slips on some steep, muddy downhill climbs.  Lost of slick mud and roots.  Had some rain last night and early AM.  Packed up reasonably dry in my tent.