Date: 2013-11-25
From: Wayah Gap

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 22.0

Grandma and grandpa drove us about an hour to the Wayah Gap trailhead. We then hiked Northbound as it appeared easier to descend down towards the NOC than climb up out of it. It was 30 degrees when we got out of the car so we knew it would get colder once we got up on the ridge line. We figure we hiked in temperatures in the 20s all day.After just a short hike we came upon a man sitting on a log. He was a TRAIL ANGEL!!!!! What joy!!! His name is Apple and he has the sweetest set up we've seen. He has a tent with "AT Thru Hikers Welcome". He had an embroidered sign and was wearing an official poking trail angel jacket. His tent had heat, chairs, a stove and lots of yummy food. Apple offered us hot chocolate and big calorie buns. Can you imagine what a kind heart it takes to sit in the damp coldness just to feed and emotionally support a bunch of stinky hikers?! What a guy! We SOBOs really need the love so thanks Apple. Again we are blown away by the generous kindness of strangers. . Our bodies are miraculous vessels. We stayed plenty warm enough as long as we kept hiking. We ate lunch and all snacks on the move. Later in the day I had a terrible fall. I just laid there afraid to move. If I was badly hurt this close to the end I would go out of my mind! I looked up and the girls were gone. Badonkadonk had in her ear phones and Cub was daydreaming. I just put my head down and cried a bit. Just feeling sorry for myself for a minute. I really needed some nurturing so I called Blueberry and he talked me through it. I got myself up and dusted myself off and limped away. Nothing to do but hike on. My hiking pole was bent but somewhat usable. I banged my knee and it hurt. I landed on my right hand again. I just got over a big bruise on the pad of my hand. I guess it's my automatic response to falling. I was just so tired of being cold. We still had 7 miles to go. My head started hurting and my body was sore. It got dark early so we put our headlamps on. We called Grandma to tell her we'd be down by 6pm. Shortly after the call we hit ledges that were narrow and strewn with wet and frozen leaves. We were slipping all over the place so we had to slow down. Also I was stiff and moving like an old woman. We started the hike around 10:30 am and we finished by 6:40pm. It was with the happiest of feelings we spotted the warm white Cadillac of Grandma and Grandpa. It is so much nicer to get into a warm car with people we love at the end of a hard day instead of pitching our tent in the dark, cold wetness. Instead of hunkering down into our sleeping bags we headed out for a delicious, hot meal! We ate at the Italian restaurant in Bryson City. It was absolutely yummy! We had the best time laughing and talking with the grandparents. It made me forget my aches and pains. They are lovely people and we just adore them. Again the girls and I are so amazed by all the generous love and support our family has given us. The girls casted Grandma as Julie Andrews in our movie. Grandpa said he could be Morgan Freedman. With full bellies we headed back to the Sleep Inn for much needed rest. I took some meds and was so fast asleep I don't remember even laying down. The next morning I woke up so much better than I had even hoped for. Slight aching but nothing to really bother me. Thanks mom for making me drink my milk. I am amazed at how much our bodies have been subjected and how hardily they have held up. Only about a week left and we will give our bodies some pampering and rest.