Date: 2005-03-22
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin NC)
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

DAY 11This morning it looked like it was going to rain any minute. As seems to be the norm when I cook breakfast, I was among the last to leave the shelter. After I had walked a quarter mile or so, I realized I left my walking stick back at the shelter. After ten days on the Trail, the walking stick has still not become a part of me. I went back to retrieve it. I was not about to leave such a wonderful gift behind. I had no particular objective in mind this morning when I left the shelter. I was thinking about going into Franklin, North Carolina, tomorrow. A 16 mile day today didn¢t seem realistic. After about five miles of hiking, as I was hiking with Yardsale and Cory, I came upon a sign in the Trail that said, ¢Trail Magic¢. The sign directed us to a clearing just to the left of the Trail. There a tent had been set up and Trail Angels, the Gliddens, had food available for hikers passing by. They had vegetarian burritos, hot and cold drinks, and other food available. It was already raining lightly, so the opportunity to get out of the rain and have some warm food and drink was so wonderful and appreciated. I am just awestruck by the kindness of people along the Trail. Soon, I had to reluctantly start back on the Trail. Ahead of me was Albert Mountain, which at 5220 feet above sea level, is the highest point on the Trail so far. There is a bypass around the Mountain. I briefly considered bypass because of the light rain, but instead I started up the Mountain. Initially, it was no problem: just another steep walk. Then the climb became a rock scramble, requiring hand holds and climbing on all fours. Fortunately the hand over hand climb only lasted a few hundred feet before I summited. But it seemed pretty hairy at the time, particularly with the light rain falling. I hope this is not a portent of future climbs on the Trail, as I have a fear of heights.There was no view today from the summit due to the rain and clouds, so I rapidly descended. About three miles later I came to Glassmine Gap, which is about at the 100 Mile mark on the Trail. Vitaman and Tim were resting there. Vitaman said, ¢We must be somewhere! Oh, we just reached a hundred miles. Let¢s celebrate! Let¢s have a drink of water!¢ So the three of us had a celebratory sip of water. And on I went.Perhaps I should have been feeling good to have covered the first hundred miles on the Trail. However, it was drizzling and later I heard a few cracks of thunder. The last place I wanted to be in a thunderstorm was on a ridge line. I decided right then that I was not going to spend the forth coming night in a damp shelter, considering that I was already wet. I decided I was going into Franklin for the night and consider finding a way to get off the Trail. However, this meant that it would be a 16 mile day to Winding Stair Gap.It did not rain heavily until I was almost at Winding Stair Gap, so I hiked without my rain jacket. It was not particularly cold and I reasoned that if I wore my rain jacket I would be wet from sweat. Besides I would have to stop and pull the rain jacket from my pack. I did put on my rain jacket at the road (US Route 64) just before the rain really got heavy. It took me perhaps 45 minutes to get a ride. I am learning that in bad weather, when you really need a ride, no one wants to pick you up.The man who picked me up took me directly to the Franklin Motel. When I was at the Blueberry Patch a few days ago I heard that the Franklin Motel was very hiker friendly. Indeed I have found that to be the case. The lady who registered me was very friendly and quite attractive. I couldn¢t help but notice and admire her cleavage above her low cut blouse. She also showed me where there was free fuel for my stove. Talk about Hiker Friendly!I had a big and inexpensive dinner at a restaurant across the street from the Motel. I am feeling much better about things right now. I will see what tomorrow brings and decide what to do after a good night¢s sleep.