Date: 2013-04-06
From: Wesser Bald Shelter 

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center - NOC
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: clear sky

We awoke to a beautiful clear morning at Wesser Bald Shelter where everyone tented, leaving the shelter empty. Since everything was still wet from the ice storm, and we were all stuck in the shelter like sardines the day prior, speaking for myself, I wanted to be able to stretch out and clean up, something hard to do in a crowded coed situation. It's enough just to change clothes in your sleeping bag so as to not wear wet and muddy pants to bed. In a tent I have all the privacy I want and can run around naked if I so choose, though "running around" may be exaggerated.   I hiked most of the trail with Stupid, who is not by the way. I think I like that name most of all the trail names I've heard. Stupid explained that people have told him they feel funny about calling him Stupid, but he explains that he loves the name, and its all a big joke. People are just insecure about calling someone Stupid. I absolutely love that philosophy and attitude. It's true that it doesn't bother him, and he actually gets a kick put of seeing people squirm when they call him "stupid". I only wish I'd thought if it, but Knutt probably suits me best.Since I climbed the huge mountain leading up to Wayah Gap, I only needed to hike a short 6.7 miles to get to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). When I arrived at the NOC, there were all kinds of activities going on, on and around the Nantahala River. Kayakers were darting around the obstacle course, kids were playing on the bank near the cold water, fly fishermen were wading, looking for that fighting bite of a rainbow trout, and just walking around the resort enjoying a nice early spring day. I decided to get a bunkhouse for two days to rest my twinging back, which is usually a warning sign that I need to take it easy. GMan and I rented a bunkhouse with two beds. We were told by the NOC guy who took our money that the room was basic with no amenities, and he did not exaggerate on that. The room had a bottom and top bunk, a bench, window, electric outlet and nothing more. Its like a prison cell, except a prison cell has a bathroom and sink. (Prisoners just don't realize how well they have it).We checked in and start walking around the NOC. It is unbelievable how many people we know. It's like everyone secretly decided to meet in one place. We saw Radagasgar and Lt. CooCooBird, K2 Summit, Hawaii, Noodles, Thor and Happy Grumpy (who changed her name from Grumpy), Liz who is now Flo, High Lighter, Nimble, Cannibal Curious and Sunshine, Mountain Man, Puddin' and Patty Cake, Icarus, Sleeping Beauty, Stupid, Strider, and others. It was like a huge festival where all my friends showed up. I also met several new hikers, including a hiker with no trailname that I "cured" when he started our fire into a burning flame by blowing into it. I anointed him as "Dragon" and he loved it. Some people name themselves, others are named by friends, and the real lucky ones are named by others due to something that transpires on the trail. Dragon was a perfect name. We partied through the night with hiker friends everywhere and were treated with free food and a bluegrass band. What a great night we had. Every day thru hikers bust their tails humping heavy back packs up and down steep mountains, through mud and water, over rocks and roots and across and through streams of water.   We don't get baths and sometimes don't even get a chance to brush our teeth. It's a tough life that's not all a bed of roses. But these are the moments when you realize why you're out here doing this. I'm having a blast. Got to go pack my pack now so I can climb a huge mountain in the morning. Reality sets in and I will be asking myself "Why am I doing this again?"