We chug along in my little car to the top of Wakusei. There is a metal line barrier blocking people from driving onto the lookout. There are clothes on it. I think, "Oh, how cute, someone put clothes on the line to make sure people see it and don't hit the line with their cars."
We got closer and I thought, there are belts on that line too. Whoa, that's weird....
We got out of the car to go to the lookout. Chris went ahead and when he got up there turned around with his hand out and a funny look on his face and he said very quietly "wait a minute Marna".
I started taking photos of the flowers around but was thinking why is he standing there looking funny, strange. Can't be a bear-he would be getting back to the car. Finally he said "come on".
I went up slowly and there were three or four tiny tents and five or six men lounging around on sleeping bags scattered over the lookout. UNCOMFORTABLE!!! They were obviously not from East TN and didn't talk to us, just stared. We looked off the side of the mountain and then got outta there. The one guy did tell Chris they hiked 10 miles the day before and 6 that day. They had a weather radio and everything for living in the mountains. Chris told me later that when he told me to wait before coming up the one guy was changing clothes! I'm glad he saw that and had me wait!!! It was a weird situation on top of a mountain where people rarely are. AND no cell phones work if you need help!
