Date: 2014-03-23
From: Betty Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap - Franklin, NC
Miles today: 12.2

Albert mountain was the highlight of the day with its fire watchtower at barely over a mile high at the top of the tower. Several times today the path has been about a foot wide on the edge of a steep slope. But then the trail around the ridge to the approach of Albert passed along the edge of a cliff with a few hundred feet straight down. It was the first time on the trail I felt a shiver when I got a glimpse of the drop off through a break in the rhododendron bushes. Sometimes the trail reminds me of the movies I have seen of trails in the Andes. But I am lucky because most of the time some tree or bush would catch me within 30 feet. I am careful as can be, but I am thankful for your prayers. I hiked one day with a man who got a little north of where I am now and took a tumble over the side. He had to stop his hike last year. My thoughts at this point are if I get knocked out by injury, I will come back next year and finish where I left off.Albert Mountain marked a hundred miles for me. It was shrouded in fog, so I wasted no energy climbing the tower for a better view. If I had just been out for a weekend hike with expectations of the great view from this high point I might have been disappointed. But I just enjoyed it for what it was because I knew there would be hundreds more vistas. Hikers who came by later in afternoon got a good view.The final ascent to Albert was almost straight up. The "easy" parts had log steps to climb. More difficult were the climbs up the side of rain-soaked rocks with some toe holds chiseled out. I recalled from rock climbing videos that one should have one or two points secure before taking the next step. I tried for 3 points. Treking poles were helpful but sometimes I resorted to pulling up on trees--tested for soundness of course. I talked about the climb to "All Day" on the shuttle later and she said she also used the trees to climb.A few miles after Albert Mountain I began to get glimpses of the valley and saw signs of civilization for the first time in few days. I had been seeing only trees in the valleys and mountain after mountain in the distance. The nice thing about the fog free times is that you can see the mountains you are going to or coming from and seeing the sun helps orient oneself. In the morning, if the sun is on my left I am going north.I had just reached the highway at Winding Stair Gap and started to call the Budget Inn for a ride and 2 vehicles pulled over because 2 other hikers were thumbing for a ride. They got in the pickup and I got in the car. Turns out my driver Mike and the man in the pickup had been out for a 4 day hike to recon an area of the trail for possible trail maintenance. He was with the Nantahala Trail Club, even though he lives in Florida in the winter. Each section of he trail is maintained by volunteers in a state or local club. The ride was a little trail magic for today.The Inn was full up, so I stayed in the Hostel across the road. It was cheaper and I enjoyed the company of the other 3 bunkmates. Kennedy from Charleston SC is trying to get over an injury. Achilles from NJ and Sea Bisquick from Cleveland OH are hiking together for now. They will head out for 24 miles tomorrow. 12 miles a day is the max for me. At my pace of 2 miles an hour it would take me 12 hours to hike that far. I can go 20 min miles, but the rocks and roots are coming at me pretty fast.The nice thing about tonight is not having to hang my food in a tree. When camping the most beautiful sight in the morning is seeing my blue nylon bag swaying in the breeze. Even if you do it correctly there is no guarantee. Sea Bisquick says he was staying north of Neel Gap and heard a bear crash to the ground with his food. Apparently the bear had climbed the tree and jumped out to grab the bag and pull it down.