Update 6/1/09

Update to last email: Jack and Chris had bear company on 5/31 at Pecs Corner Shelter. The bear actually punctured Chris' water bottles and pulled his trekking poles. Jack and Chris stayed at Pigeon River shelter on 6/1/09. Later today Jack had a big scare when he nearly stepped on a hissing rattlesnake on the trail. Jack and Chris tried to get the snake to move away. It would not do so, so Jack and Chris had to walk into thick underbrush to get around the snake. They walked 23 miles on June 1st, today. They hiked about 21 miles yesterday. They are now out of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Hopefully, they will be in Hot Springs, NC by tomorrow afternoon.