Date: 2016-05-06
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: overcast clouds

As the day lightened up outside the shelter, I lay there nice and warm in my sleeping bag. We were packed in like sardines shoulder to shoulder on the shelter platform, so I didn't want to get up and disturb the others who were still sleeping. Finally about 7 am Luna sat up and everyone else started popping up as they too were waiting for the first person to get up. Only Karma laying next to me was still asleep. I discovered down feathers floating around all over and found a hole in my sleeping bag that a mouse had chewed during the night - dang it. I must have spilled something on it he smelled. I felt a mouse running over me during the night and flicked him off, but didn't sense one chewing into my sleeping bag. Mice are always a big problem in these shelters and we take great pains to protect our gear from mice invasions.I repaired my sleeping bag with some tape and started gathering my gear. Someone gathered all the food bags hanging by the bear cables and I grabbed a breakfast bar to munch on while I packed. Nobody in this group made a breakfast or hot drink, they just packed up and joked with each other about how they slept or snored or other bodily noises heard during the night. They were a fun group to be around. It turned out that this "trail family" came together in the first few days out of Springer. Three of them started together, One Hit Wonder, Alice, and Luna. Karma, Castaway ( think the Tom Hanks movie), and Katmandu all joined up over the next few days. They all were from all over the country and all very fast hikers and melded into one of the most fun groups I've seen on the trail. They all walk individually at there own paces, but plan where to meet up each night. They were still calling themselves by their real names for the most part as they got to know each other before they got their trail names.We set out about 7:50 am headed for the NOC, about 6 miles away. There would be a restaurant there and everyone was dreaming of what to eat. There was a small uphill to start but the trail would be mostly downhill to the NOC! Along a ridge with some spectacular views, Karma passed me and exclaimed "This is what makes it all worth while!". At a spot called the Jumpoff, I passed One Hit Wonder admiring the incredible view and was able to get a great picture of the Nantahala valley below.The trail was slippery from the rain yesterday and at one place I went flying and tumbled down the trail. Nothing was broken except my ego, and a bent hiking pole. I proceeded down the trail more carefully and came upon Castaway who was having bad knee pains. I offered him some KT tape and we did the best we could to try to tape up his knee. He was likely having IT band issues. He was really concerned about being able to go on, and more concerned about leaving this trail family.I got down to the NOC at 11 am and the group called for me to join them at their table at the Rivers End restaurant at the NOC. The Nantahala Outdoor Center is a really cool place to visit if you live in the southeast with white water rafting, zip lining, and several other outdoor sports. For hikers it is a haven with a restaurant, an outfitter, and a convenience store for resupply.We all gorged ourselves for lunch (Pizza and beer for me!) and swapped life stories, got to catch up with family over free wifi, and charge up electrical devices. Back to civilization - food and wifi!!The bad news was Castaway decided he couldn't go on, his knee was just too bad. He contemplated his options and the family all discussed options for him to meet back up with them after he rehabbed.I was able to get my hiking pole repaired at the outfitter (Thank you NOC!) and everyone resupplied a bit. We were all sitting at a picnic table enjoying the afternoon and finally decided we needed to move on. We were headed for Sassafras Gap shelter and it was a horrendous 3000 foot climb out of the valley and 7 miles to the shelter. Everyone said their goodbyes to Castaway, assured they will meet up soon, and headed up the mountain.It was a long afternoon with the climb out of the valley and I finally reached Sassafras Gap at 7 pm. The shelter was packed and tents and hammocks were everywhere. The weekend crowds were out and there few places left to camp. The group had saved me a spot to camp with them fortunately! They all climbed into their tents as I set up my tent and ate a cold supper. I climbed into my sleeping bag thankful for some real food today, some beautiful views, and for being welcomed by this trail family.