Date: 2007-02-14
From: Siler's Bald Shelter, NC

To: Burningtown Gap, NC
Miles today: 11.1

Woke up freezing in the night and had to get into both sleeping bags and all my clothes. It has been a about 4 days since I had to do this. Went to bed with the temp around 50 degrees and woke up to around 28 degrees. The clouds moved out; but, It looked as if the rain turned into freezing rain before it left. All the trees are covered with ice and glistening. I left the shelter around noon. I needed to get to The Cold Spring Shelter about 12 miles away. I had to take my only bad weather blue blaze of the trip. There is a blue blaze that goes to the top of Siler's Bald. It is about .5 miles. I had to avoid that ice fall on the other shelter approach trail. I was really bundled up today as the wind was about 15 mph and it was around freezing. The climb up Siler's was out of the wind and sunny. I hate this when I get all bundled up and start out like this and have to disrobe some. Got to the top and it was absolutely beautiful. Ice in the trees in every direction. I saw my next challenge..Wayah Bald..another 5000 footer! And of course, I had to bundle up again as I was going down on the dark side. Long way down to Wayah Gap and then A long climb to the last road intersection where there is a spring. I drank as much water as I could handle before shivering and getting a head ache. Believe it or not, it is difficult to stay hydrated in these conditions because many springs are frozen; you cant drink alot of water fast; and you just not as thirsty; even though you need the water. As I was sitting here, a big Lincoln drove by and I waved. They did not wave back. Man the first people I see several days and they cant wave? I guess I look like a drifter? I started to get cold; so, I turned on the "jets" and was going over Wine Spring Bald before I knew it. I love it when this happens. When you start to get into shape: you will sometimes go into a walking trance. You will think about a subject so intensely or listen to the radio so intensely that an hour or so will go by and then you will come out of it and go: wow! I know im not psychotic because other long distance hikers have said that they do this at times as well. As I start to go down and then up again to Wayah, I am on the dark side again. The ice is everywhere. The ground I am walking on often gives away about 6 inces or so. It is tough hiking to Wayah. I got to the tower where we dropped "Super 'Mr. Happy' Fragilisticexpyaladocious" off about a week before. I looked around, beautiful, and began moving fast downhill for about 3 miles. I got to Licklog Gap, stopped, and got out my trusty thermos. I downed some soup that barely kept me from freezing to death. The sun is going down now, Im sweaty, and I have walked down hill for over an hour. So I quickly race up and over the mountain before Burningtown Gap. As I decend down to the gap, I notice that my nose hairs are freezing up and I cannot feel my face. My nose hairs usually freeze around 10 degrees. Can it be that cold? I am keeping my "Mojo" going because when I get to the gap; I need to pull my headlamp out, quickly, for the last steep mile up to The Cold Spring Shelter. When I get about .1 to the gap, I begin to have what I think are hallucinations. I am seeing a big orange glow. It looks like the setting sun is hitting the ice in the trees and making a big ball. Wait, it's a big tent And there is a smaller green one next to it?! There is a sign that says "Trail Angel Come On IN"(trail angels are people that go out of their way to find a setting to help hikers. They have food, shelter, company. In the spring they are found from every gap from Springer to Hot Springs) The sign is on the tent door. I yell out to not shoot me and I look in both tents. The smaller tent looks like the "angels" living quarters and the big orange one looks like it is here just for me! I go into the orange tent. It is just after dusk. I can barely see. I see a kerosene heater. I try the auto ignite. Cant get it to start. I see a double burner coleman stove on a table. I fire that baby up and put some water in a pot and get it boiling. I am freezing cold and I can see steam pouring off of me. I start the coleman lantern so I can see. I manually light the coleman stove. See all those years of camping paid off. I bet some people could not start all of these devices. The water boils and I see some hot chocolate and make some. I see a cooler with hot dogs, buns, and mustard. I boil 5 and eat them like a ravenous dog. I get into my warm dry clothes. It is really getting warm in here and water is dripping off the ceiling. About then I hear a vehicle drive up. I yell out, "is this your place?" The person says,"yes". I told him that I helped myself. He came in and introduced himself as "Apple". He is from Texas and we talk into the night. He eventually went into his tent and I layed on top of the rugs in the orange tent and went to bed thanking god for this day.