Date: 2013-04-17
From: Wayah Gap

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: haze

Today was probably my hardest, least favorite day on the trail so far. Don't worry, I'm not going to complain. I hate reading other people's trail journals when they start complaining. After all, we don't have to be out here. This is our choice, and we know when we start this odyssey that it will not be easy. There are plenty of people that would love to be out here in our place but can't because of job, family, health, or other obligations, so we should not be complaining or whining when things get hard. For every one of us out here, there is at least one person back home making sacrifices for us that allow us to be out here so.....no complaining. Put on your big girl panties and shut up about how hard it is!So I will just tell you about what made today difficult for me, without whining or feeling sorry for myself. I woke up at the Sapphire Inn, and we got a shuttle to take us to Wayah Gap Picnic Area, where we got off the trail yesterday. I was already feeling lingering guilt about that third night in a motel, when I found out that our shuttle fee for the two days was $50. I know gas is expensive, and I'm not saying that wasn't a fair fee, but it was more than I was expecting, and added to the extra night in the motel, that was $50 more than I had planned to spend, and I am on a budget hike. So, we started hiking, and it was a very warm, nearly hot, sunny day. The terrain was tough, but when isn't it? I met my first group of trail maintainers on the way. This is one of the beauties of the Appalachian Trail. Although it falls under the US Parks Service and has an office in Harper's Ferry, WV with a small paid staff, the entire 2,000+ mile length of it is maintained by volunteers! Each area has a local "club" or group who do all the work. Today I met a group of 3 men and 2 women armed with chain saws, axes, rakes, and other tools, out working on the trail. They said they come out every Wednesday morning and walk the trail and do whatever needs done to keep it passable and safe for hikers like me. They were very nice folks, and I thanked them for their service. Then I continued on, climbing Wayah Bald. I finally reached the top, and there was a local man sitting there in a pickup truck (there is a road to the summit). Trail magic! He had ice cold water and trail mix. I passed on the trail mix, having lots of gorp in my food bag, but was thrilled with his ice water. Both my water bottles were nearly empty, and I was about to have to start looking for a creek or spring, and the water I had left was very warm, nearly hot. His ice water was fabulous! He was a nice guy and told me that having climbed Wayah Bald was an accomplishment, and I should be proud of myself. I guess I am. As I walked away from him to the summit of Wayah Bald, there was a beautiful stone building there, sort of like a small castle. And a fence with a beautiful overlook. I am ashamed and sorry to admit that I have know idea what the building was for, who built it, and when. I know nothing of its history. This is your assignment, find out about this building for me. I will post pictures of it.Then I hurried away down the bald, because I knew rain was coming in, maybe thunderstorms. I don't mind walking in rain, but I don't think I should be out roaming around in thunder and lightning. So I pushed myself, trying to make Wayah Bald Shelter before the storm hit. It started raining and I stopped to put the pack cover on my backpack to keep my stuff dry, but I didn't put my raincoat on because it had been so hot and I was so sweaty that the cool rain felt good. I kept walking in the rain and finally made it to the shelter by 2 or 3 PM. Too early to quit for the day, but what to do? One hiker had a weather radio, and the forecast was for the current rain to quit by 4, then recommence about 7 and rain all night, maybe storm. I wanted to wait out the current rain, then walk a bit further and stop for the night. Nightingale wanted to stay at the shelter, she had a spot in the shelter for the night (I didn't, she got the last spot). She is more nervous about storms than I am, probably because she is smarter than me. I decided to stay, not wanting to force her into a situation she was uncomfortable with, and not ready to leave her and hike by myself yet. She will be leaving the trail at the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) in a few days anyway for a job interview, so I wanted to stay together until then. So we were at the shelter all afternoon and evening with a group of hikers I was not really sympatico with, and it was just a little frustrating for me. The good news was I got to sleep in my hammock again, and even though the night was cold, with the addition of my blue foam pad, I was cozy warm. Went to bed early and read for awhile.In retrospect, this doesn't sound like such a bad day, does it? Good thing I didn't whine or complain about it!