Date: 2015-03-15
From: Tellico Gap 

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter 
Miles today: 14.8
Weather: light snow

Today was supposed to be my first really hard day. Needless to say, it was hard. But it wasn't a bad day, that's for sure. It started off with a hearty breakfast - 5 homemade waffles, sliced fruit, whole milk, and fresh coffee. After breakfast, we settled up and loaded into the car. Wiggy drove Signage, Greywolf, and myself (Bismarck stayed behind to attend church) back to Tellico Gap to begin our day. ** Let me pause here for a second to say how incredible it was to stay at the Nantahala Mountain Lodge. It may be a bit pricey for the cash-strapped thru hiker, but if you need a nice place to recharge your batteries and relax, it's hard to beat. And the hosts, even though they're from across the pond, offer some of the best southern hospitality I've ever experienced. I cannot recommend it enough. **A quick jaunt up from Tellico Gap yielded a wonderful view from the Wesser Bald observation tower. Descending from the bald, however, was not that wonderful. I was stuck - you can only walk downhill so fast before wrecking your knees - between a group of loud, cackling weekenders and a few thru hikers who were engaged in less-than-desirable topics of conversation. Both of these groups turned what should have been a quiet, solitary descent into an annoying test of patience. But, all things considered, I shouldn't be so quick to complain. I eventually arrived at the NOC and engaged in a pack-splosion on a riverside bench. Twenty minutes of snacking out of my food bag didn't completely quell my hunger, so I ventured inside the restaurant next door and purchased a philly and an oatmeal stout. While I sat and enjoyed my second lunch, I got the chance to say hi to a few familiar faces: Werewolf, Banana Boat, Seeker, and Signage all swung through while I watched kayakers play in the rapids below. I eventually took off and headed up the mountain, but not before I had enough time to digest all of my meals. For the next few miles, I found myself taking breaks every five minutes, not because I was tired, but because I was so stuffed full of food I couldn't catch my breath. There should be a hashtag for that... #hikerprobs. I had been warned about this climb by many, but didn't really understand until I was on it. This thing took FOREVER to climb! I began my ascent at 3:30 and didn't roll into Sassafras Gap Shelter until 4 hours of hard work had passed. That final climb - 3,000ft of elevation change over 6.7mi - put my daily total at 14.8mi.It was fun to jump ahead and see new faces after a long hiking day though. Interestingly enough, I was greeted by one hiker with "So YOU are the Houdini I've been hearing about!" Whether it's a good thing or not, my reputation seems to preceed me! It seems nothing bad has been said about me though, which is nice. We all had a few good hiking-related laughs near the campfire while everyone finished eating and started preparing for bed. My legs are jelly, my shoulders ache, and I smell like a dead animal. But I'm enjoying all of my hike - the ups and the downs - and it feels like I'm getting stronger every day. I really am starting to love it out here.