Date: 2005-04-08
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Cheoah Bald
Miles today: 8.1

Last night was CRAZY. I woke up around 5AM to what I thought was an animal rummaging through the gear. My first instinct was to scare it away. So I said, "HEY!" but nothing happened. I could see it's huge legs move to block out the distant lights, and I thought that it must be a koyote! So I let out a few angry growls and barks. Then the koyote jumped back and said, "Oh sorry man, I didn't know anyone was in there... I'm just going to use the phone." WHAT?! After a few moments of semi-conscious reasoning, I realized what had just happened. I've been ripped off!!! Yes indeed, a theif was going through my stuff and walked away with something. I later come to find that it wasn't very important, just a peanut butter jar full of hand sanitizer and water purifier. But the fact that he got away with it really pissed me off. I decided just to pack up my things up and get out of there. That's what I get for camping in the wrong place at the wrong time.Daybreak can't come fast enough. As soon as the River's End opens, I march in for breakfast where I meet Tank and Willow. The three of us end up eating together, and I find out that they've hiked the trail a year or two ago. This year, however, they're going north to Damascus and'll follow up with a long distance bicycle trip somewhere. I like them because they both appear to be softspoken and humble. As soon as the outfitter opens, I hit it up for some new Aquamira and sanitizer (that sunnuva beetch basterd) before I leave this place. Today's gonna be hard because the climb out of her is long and steep.I continue to hike slow and steady all morning long as I rise several thousand feet above the NOC. Here I'm doing the exact opposite as I did yesterday. The climb mimmicks a seasonal change from spring into winter. One slope stays in my memory because of it's frequent rhododendrons and mossy rocks. One rock face in particular is jagged and trickles with run-off water. I eventually come to a steep section that forces me to do some scrambling. The reward is a killer view. Off to the left I can see the NOC below ...very far below! It's a good place to rest and stare out into space. One would think that this is the end of the climb, but oh no. There's more to come.The climb finally does end at Cheoah bald. I really have to work for it too, because the last section is pretty steep. But what a pay-off! Cheoah Bald is awesome! I'm camping here tonight for sure; It's a great place to spend some time. One side of the bald is a field and the other is a cliff, so the views are incredible. It's probably my favorite campsite so far. After setting up my tent, I find myself running back and forth taking quite a lot of pictures. As I'm cooking dinner on the cliff, a thunderstorm passes in the distance. The whole thing sweeps through the valley right before my eyes and I can see it in it's entirety. There's blue sky above with a massive thunderhead below dumping rain and flashing lightning, probably on some unlucky hikers. The weather is changing constantly, and I'm glad that the rain is elsewhere. I can also look out to see my first view of the Smoky Mountains. In just a few days, I'll be right there. Cool! The sunset casts rays of light between the passing rain clouds and reveals mist rising from what must be Fontana Lake at the foot of the Smokies. There are some other campers here too. I keep meeting new people because I'm so freakin' slow and they do more miles than me. Bootleg is from Virginia and met Dana from Dana Designs back at Neels Gap. I also meet Lobster Boy and Dark Helmet (from Buffalo, NY) who are sharing a tarp at the bottom of the field. Lobster boy and I have some in common because he made alot of his own gear for this trip. However, he didn't have a sewing machine and had to sew it all by hand, which takes forever and a half. He gives me a jar of peanut butter because it's extra weight that he hasn't once used. Dark Helmet is called such because of his black skull hat. I think it's a humorous reference to the Space Balls movie shot in the 80's.