Date: 2007-03-30
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: overcast clouds

I decided to sleep in the shelter because it was still raining. It rained off and on all night. The good thing though was that there were no mice. It started out cold and foggy. I left the shelter around 8:33. It was a gradual climb day, except one part that was pure T torture. It was .3 miles of scrambling up huge logs and rocks up to Mt. Albert. I felt like a mountain goat carrying a way too big back pack. Not a pretty sight I can assure you.Got to the shelter at about 2:30. It was chilly and there were two guys that I hadn't realy seen before. The shelter was really close to a road. Not very comfortable.   I met a french guy from SC who is hiking a section each week. He leaves his house at 4:15 in the AM and drives 2.5 hours to get to the trail. He does the section up and back. Then drives back to SC. He was not a young guy either. Had to be in his 60's. Incredible.Young and Dumb showed up at the shelter and said he was going to go into Franklin. I asked him how he was going to get to town. He said he was going to hitch. I asked him if he would wait for me and hitch with me. He said sure.By this time it was already 4:30. Mangrove, Dash, and Jaybeard showed up as well as Andrew (driftwood - who I have been hiking with on and off since day one). They were going to stay at the shelter and hitch in the AM to get food.I decided to go with Young and Dumb. We power hiked over 4 miles down to the Gap in about 1hr and 40 minutes. Once we got there - we debated starting to walk, but it was 10 miles to town.So, he started making phone calls to hotels and I put out my thumb.   Within 10 minutes a couple travelling on the other side of the highway did a U turn and asked us if they could give us a ride.   Great.   They were on their way to Asheville. They were really nice - they got us to the Franklin Motel. Not great - but a whole lot better than the Dexter Motor Inn in Dexter Maine. Which for those that don't know - DUMP is the operative word.   This place was clean and not bad and only $32. Couldn't beat it.I walked to a Steak place and had my first real meal. It was good, but I still do not really have an appetite.It was getting dark and I didn't really want to walk back since we did a killer 15.9 miles already - I saw an older gentleman getting ready to leave so, I wolfed down the rest of my meal and ran out to the parking lot.   When he came out - I got daring and asked him if he would give me a ride.Probably felt like he had to since I ambushed him, but I was happy he said yes.Turned out he was a retired military Master Sargeant. So, we talked about the Army and hopefully, he didnt' feel too bad after that.Once I got back to the room, I had to start making calls to get a ride back to the Gap. Finally, got a guy named John who said he would be there before noon.Great. Just the time I was planning, since I wanted to run a few errands.Critters: titmouse, piliated woodpecker, pheobe and a stray dog. The dog was some kind of hunting dog with a radio control collar on who was coming down the Mt. Albert as I was going up. We passed each other very cautiously.   But, it went ok especially for me who is afraid of dogs.