Date: 2010-03-18
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap/ Franklin, NC
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: broken clouds

Day 12Big 16 mile day today. This morning was cold and I didn't want to get out of my sleeping bag. It was so warm and cozy like a Dutch oven. Mostly because the Mountain House chili Mac gave me gas and I was farting all night. I'm told I also mumble in my sleep. Now that's a new one. I have been falsely accused of snoring like a sycopathic bear, but never has anyone told me I mumble in my sleep. I suppose its because my body is used to me jabbering non stop all day long and doesn't know what to do with this new routine of being mostly mute all day. So I talk all night. At least I don't have to listen to me.So anyway I finally got out of my bag as Soulsearcher was heading out. We hike about the same pace, I'm faster on the uphills and he's faster on the downhills. 1/2 hour later I am packed, visited the privy and was on the trail expecting to catch him before too long. But today was mostly downhill and even though I was flying down thetrail I never caught up until we were on Albert mountain. We were both feeling our oats today. He'd already been there for 15 minutes so he moved on when I arrived. I was in no condition to go anywhere. The climb up AlbertMountain was a bugaboo. Climbing hand to hand in must places. It went straight up. At one point I heaved myself up onto a rock and stood up and nearly fell backwards onto the rock 10' below and then would probably bounce for another couple hundred feet before stopping. But after a heart stopping couple of seconds I managed to pull my balance forward enough to step away from the ledge. The view from the fire tower at the top was spectacular. I shot a video from up there, if the computer here at The Haven Budget Inn in Franklin, NC ever comes back online I'll try to post it.I posted a pic to Facebook and Picassa and then took off down the now snow covered trail again. All downhill so I didn't catch up to Soulsearcher for a very long time and then it was only because he had lost the trail and was bushwasking through the brush in the bottom of the ravine to get to the trail again. In the meantime I had stopped around the 100 mile mark on the trail for lunch. I noted that it was only 1:30 and I had already walked nearly 9 miles. Only 7 more to Winding Stair Gap and a hitch into to Franklin. So when I finally caught Soulsearcher that's what we decided to do. Good thing because the SHElter we would have stayed at was only a few hundred yards from a paved road and parking area. The last hill before town nearly killed me. It went straight up a bunch of steps forever and ever. I started to get a knot in my right calf, but I walked it out. Along the way we met Squash who was looking for a place to camp so he could have a short hike into Franklin tomorrow and take a Nero (a low mileage day but still spend a lot of time in town). Somewhere along the last few miles he decided to hike in with us. It might have been the storm clouds rolling in that changed his mind. It took a while for the 3 of us to hitch in. A truck came by with Smokey and the Bandit in the back. They shared the shelter with us the night before and had gotten off the trail at theprevious road crossing but had to walk a long way to get to the main road. There was only room for one so we let squash have it. We had towait nearly half an hour to catch a ride. But here we are and after a less than satisfactory Padtai at the local Thai restuarant we are both ready for bed. I am so tired. Need to get my laundry from the dryer and it just may be lights out.So good night and sweet dreams to all of you out there not living the 16 mile day dream.