Date: 2014-03-29
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 9.1
Weather: light rain

Turned out to be a rainy, windy day. It was too warm when hiking for raincoat, so I took it off after getting heated up climbing the 600 feet in altitude from the shelter to Cheoah Bald (5062 ft.) Sometimes Flinch and I caught up with one another during one another's rest break. I passed by Bartram Trail which was name of the bunk cabin I stayed in at N.O.C. The trail follows the footsteps of Naturalist William Bartram who explored what is now the Southeastern States of the U.S between March 1773 and January 1777.The trail was very slipper today due to the underlying clay soil. The trail had slipped over the hill as much as four feet in places and made for treacherous walking in Flinch's words which were an apt description. During Lent Orthodox Christians pray the Prayer of Saint Ephrem which contains the line: But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity (integrity), humility, patience and love. Today I was taught both humility and patience. Humility as I attempted negotiate the muddy-rottenl leaf trail by remaining upright. However I slipped down a couple of times on my knees. Had scraps on my legs from the rocks hidden in the mud but was protected by Patagonia insulated tights. Patience from going very slowly trying to getting across rock fields and through the portions of trail that had slipped away.When I arrived at Stecoah Gap, an intersection of the A.T. and NC Rt. 143, a small group were assembled under canopies as Video, Mary and others were serving trail magic in the form of hotdogs and hamburgers. I unburdened myself of the backpack and put the raincoat back on because it was chilly, rainy and windy in the gap. Video had thru hiked the A.T. not too long ago and wanted to come back and provide trail magic for the class of 2014. The canopies were set up in a grassy area but it was still muddy and sloppy to walk around. I remarked that only a thru hiker would not mind just walking around in the mud with no qualms of the inkiness of the mud. I started with a coke and 2 hamburgers which were really tasty after my exercise for today. I had not stopped for snacks because of the weather, so I had a good appetite. They had some homemade oatmeal-macadamian cookies packed 3 in a baggy. I ate one and stuck the other 2 in backpack for later. I got a couple of apples also for later. After a Moonpie, I had a hotdog and asked for 2 more, which I took to camp for dinner later. Flinch had arrived at gap before me but Vagabond came in later. I sort of expected Jo Cool and group to show up also, because they were still at shelter when I left but never did see them before I headed back into the woods. Superfeet had mentioned "Jacob's Ladder" which he remembered from the journal of his previous hike as being a noteworthy climb. I asked Video about the climb which he and girlfriend had hiked the day before and said some switchbacks had been built , still had a good leaf cover so wasn't quite as bad. After the 700 feet climb from gap to camp, I was pretty tired, so ate my two hotdogs and crawled into the sleeping back in shelter for some rest and warmth. Often when hikers arrive at camp early on nasty days, they go into their "cocoons" to warm up and recuperate. I was thankful for being in shelter because of the off and on rain during the evening. Coco and Seymour (a couple) and Lobsta came into camp but I didn't talk with them because I stayed in my mummy bag and just listened to conversations. I also heard Vagabond arrive and set up his tent. I went to sleep at dark listening to the wind and rain.