Date: 2007-03-23
From: Campsite North Wayah Bald

To: US 19, US 74, Nantahala River
Miles today: 16.8

We decided early today to hike into the N.O.C. (Nantahala Outdoor Center) if at all possible. We were up before anyone else was stirring in their tents and the stars were brilliantly shining in the sky. It was a bit chilly but not bone-chilling. By 7:15 we were on the trail. There was just enough light to see the trail but we had to watch closely for the rocks and roots. Soon the sun rose up red in the east and it was beautiful. It was good to be out so early and to watch and hear everything come awake. The trail was nice until the last 6 miles. Then, when we were not going down on slippery dry leaves with rocks and roots underneath ,we were going straight up, but thankfully they were never terribly long. Footing was treacherous at times due to the leaves, rocks, and narrow trail that went along the side of the mountain. Some places you had to be careful you did not step too near the edge because your foot would drop right through the leaves or the loose soil and then you might go over the edge. Toto yelled back once that he just about went over. We met up with the hiker that retired from the same government agency as Toto. They walked together for quite a ways before the other hiker, Laverne, stopped to wait on his hiking partner that was behind somewhere. Montana Steve passed us later in the day. He was next out of camp after us and said he had just missed us a couple of times. The first time was at Burningtown Gap where Apple, a trail angel, was set up for trail magic. He offered hot coffee and doughnuts and he had a huge dome tent with chairs in it so we could get out of the cold. It was nice and cozy inside. We were too early for the hot dogs which he gives out at lunch and dinner time, which is practically any time after mid- morning.   The second place he had just missed us was at Telico Gap where 2 women were waiting on others, who had walked up the trail a bit, to come down. They let us use their phone to call ahead to make sure we could get a room for tonight here at the N.O.C. since we were not getting a signal.Early today we walked through a large section where there had been a controlled burn. Both sides of the trail were burned and the smell of the wood burning still lingered in the air. We are cozy in our small cell-like room with plastic covered mattresses on the bunks. Our sleeping bags are laid out on them, our water bags are filled with water, we've had showers, had a wonderful salad, burger, and cheese fries,and I even had ice cream with granola and chocolate and caramel sauce over it. Also, we drank lots of water, coke, and hot coffee. Tomorrow morning is breakfast at the same restaurant at 8am and then we will be hiking out sometime before noon. We have a 7 mile hike to the next shelter and most likely that will be as far as we get. As always we will just have to see how we feel when we get there, but that first shelter is very nice; it was fairly new in 05 and has lots of room. Oh, we saw bloodroot in bloom today and spring beauties. Another new one was either a wild strawberry or cinquefoil. It had a very pretty yellow bloom on it. Life is Great!