Date: 2009-07-11
From: Wayah Gap

To: Rock Gap NC
Miles today: 9.6

Access:We are accessing the trail this week from Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). This hike would probably be better accessed from Franklin NC, but it did not make sense to change motel rooms for one night. Wayah Gap (northern end) is on Wayah Rd approximately 8 miles from Rt 64 (Franklin area) and 20 mi from Rt 74 (NOC area). Either way the road is very windy and takes considerable time. There is a large parking area off the road at the gap, but it is not too well marked. Rock Gap (southern end) is accessed off of Rt 64. From Franklin travel south on Rt 64 over Winding Stair Gap (another possible access point as this is the AT--there is a large parking area here). Approximately 2 miles after the gap, turn left where a brown USFS sign says 'Wallace Gap'. You will hit the AT in about 2 miles (there's not good parking here). Turn right at the large sign for the camping area (Standing Indian) and Rock Gap will be on the left in about 2 more miles. There is parking for 8-10 cars here.The Hike:On our way to the trailhead this morning from NOC (6am) we followed the Nantahala River upstream for about 8 miles. We were shocked to see rocks, river banks and other things that we hadn't seen last night when we were watching the kayakers and rafters shoot the rapids.The rapids were gone and the river was calm and about 2-3 feet lower. We later discovered that the power plant upstream right where we turn off onto Wayah Rd turns the water on and off every day. The power house is fed by Nantahala Lake and a dam which we passed on the way to the trailhead. We were told the water gets turned 'on' at about 7am and turned 'off' about 7pm. Besides the power generated, the dam is an integral part of the Nantahala Valley's 10+ river runners' economic success. When we started the hike there was a sign warning about an 'active' bear in the area between Wayah Gap and Deep Gap (a length on the AT of about 30 miles) that had 'no fear of humans'. The bear had stolen several backpacks containing food. Burly Girl strapped on her bear bell, pulled out her whistle and away we went. For this reason we always travel with our food in zip lock bags.The hike started with a 2 mi climb up towards Silas Bald. This was really a bald! The trail passes at the bottom of the bald. We did not climb the side trail to the top because once again this week the mountain was in the clouds and there would be no views. The trail then passed by an upper and lower blue blazed trail to the Silas Bald Shelter. At the lower trail someone had written 'AKA...Crazy Bear Shelter'. Our guidebook, published over 10 years ago, also mentioned a bear problem at this shelter. Things change and things remain the same!We then walked the ridge, had a nice lunch on top on a big log (but still no views), then past a beautiful waterfall and down to Winding Stair Gap and across busy Rt 64. At this road crossing we passed 15-20 Japanese hikers heading towards Wayah Gap. Weekends are sure different from weekdays on the trail!From Rt 64 we went straight up a mountain for our second big climb of the day and then back to the car. This was not a particularly remarkable hike, but having finished it, we have completed 60.4 miles this week! This is a record for us. Now only 103 miles to Springer Mt GA, the southern terminus of the AT. Hike your own hike! We are very fortunate that both of us have the same general pace. Big uphills and downhills do separate us however. On the uphills Bugsy puts it in low gear and climbs up steadily until he reaches the top. Burly Girl, on the other hand, never does anything in low gear and goes up at full speed for 40 paces, then stops to rest, then repeats this. Surprisingly we both reach the top at almost the same time.Bugsy and Burly Girl...doing the AT one day at a time...That's it for this week. We are heading north to NJ and home to do a little work (something's got to fund this venture!). Friday we head north to Maine, so stay tuned for more adventure!