Date: 2005-03-17
From: Burningtown Gap (Franklin, NC)

To: stealth camp 2.5 miles north of NOC
Miles today: 15.2

start: Burningtown Gap (Franklin, NC)finish: stealth camp 2.5 miles north of NOCmiles: 15.2day: 10I was greeted with "oh no, it's you" this morning when I knocked on Howdy's motel room door.  I think he needed more sleep  Time to take the hikers to be fed, and drive the hour (one way)  over twisty mountain roads to get us back to where we left off yesterday.  It's hard work being someone's trail angel, especially when it's snowing and the roads are getting bad.We said goodbye to Howdy - it's very unlikely that we'll see him again soon.  Words can't express how much it meant to us that he drove all the way from his home in Mississippi to find us on the trail.Howdy, it was great to see you, and I hope to hear about some interesting new hikes this summer.  I plan to eat your home dried spaghetti tomorrow night after a high mileage day.  Something to look forward to.  We owe you two Katahdin photos, a CAT stove and some rocks.  Working on it.So, we once again got out of the warm car, cringing against the cold, fog, and snow - yes, it was snowing - in our shorts.  As Goldilocks put it yesterday, "I want my motel room back."  We started with a decent 1/2 hour climb and that warmed us up.  We were wearing our Montane wind smocks over thin hiking shirts.  The smock really adds some warmth.  We had our Frogg Togg jackets rigged the way Stumpy showed us, with the sleeves inside out, the hood on your head, the jacket draped over the pack, and the sleeves pulled through the pack shoulder straps near where they meet the pack at the bottom.  This keeps the head, neck, and shoulders from getting snowed on, and you don't get too hot the way you would if you wore the jacket.The footing was a bit tough.  We've had mud mixed with leaves on the trail since it started raining the other day, and it gets kind of greasy.  One step forward, 1/4 step back.  Snow mixed in doesn't help.A total of about 1 1/2 inches fell before it tapered off.  Below about 3500 ft. it was all rain.  At one point the trail was closely bordered by rhododendrons that grew over the top of the trail, and all was snow covered.  It looked like some forest in Middle Earth.Today was pretty easy mileage- and climbing-wise.  Two strong ups early, then cruising lower for most of the day, heading way down into the valley where Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) and the Nantahala River are.  We picked up a food drop at NOC that we mailed before we left.  Goldilocks also got a letter from a friend, and I got a note from someone where I work - and there was CANDY in the envelope.  Very cool.The note mentioned that many people are following our trip.  I'm amazed at this.  I'm amazed at trail magic and trail angels, too.  I think what's behind much of this interest and help is the idea of a journey like this that lives in many people's hearts.  Most of it isn't about us in particular.  That doesn't make me any less grateful.  In fact it's frightening to realize that folks may be waiting eagerly for the next journal entry, and me too tired and inarticulate to satisfy.  As much as my hike and my journal are for myself, it seems that it would be unreasonably selfish to not share what I can.  [sometimes I get philosophic in the woods :]Anyway, we devoured the candy treat (thanks Adam!), and a bowl of chili, and moved on with much heavier packs.  Up 1100 vertical feet to this camping spot.We have a big day tomorrow, 20 plus miles and lots of elevation.  We're hoping for sunny weather so we can see views.  We've been slogging along the past couple of days without seeing anything.There's a large owl close by our camp site hooting in the dark.  Fingers too cold to type any more.  Good night.