Date: 2014-03-27
From: Wayah Bald shelter

To: Wesser Bald shelter
Miles today: 10.6
Weather: overcast clouds

I had a difficult time getting my ass motivated this morning. Issue 1: it was seriously cold outside last night, and I didn't sleep well. My sleeping bag is plenty warm enough for cold weather, but I sometimes get claustrophobic with the hood of the mummy bag pulled tight over my head. Issue 2: we were packed like sardines in the shelter last night, and there almost has to be some coordination when getting everyone---and all their crap--out of the shelter. I'm sure I elected myself (and all of my crap) to be one of the last ones out. Perhaps unfortunately, by sleeping in, I didn't get on the trail until 945. I hiked mostly alone this morning, and was treated to a couple easy miles of uphill / downhill hiking. Until I reached Burningtown Gap, which enchanted us all with a leg crushing 1.5 mile uphill (switchback negative). While this was definitely not an easy mile and some change, it went fairly easy for me. I learned sometime during the climbs in Georgia, that I had to learn to control my breathing: panting and gasping for air wears me out quickly. Additionally, I only occasionally look up trail when hiking up. For me at least, it's better psychologically if I just keep my eyes down and maintain a steady pace. For now, this tactic seems to be working well. I'm trying to break myself from looking down, but for now, one thing at a time. I had a brief lunch at Cold Spring shelter, and hiked another relatively easy mile of up-and-down-type-trail. After I skipped the view at Rocky Bald (I felt I was in a groove) the trail took a lengthy downhill turn into Tellico Gap. I was looking forward to taking a break at Tellico, and as I was making my way down to the gap I heard, "Hoooch," echoing up the mountain. My pals SuperFeet and Barnacles were at the bottom, stretched out in a grassy meadow. I thought they were days ahead of me! SuperFeet asked if I planned on pushing to the NOC for some beers. I told him I would not be. The climb down to Tellico Gap left my knees shrieking, and the down-hike to the NOC was nearly 6 miles long. Anyway, we spent a few minutes catching up on hiker-type business, then I took my turn laying in a grassy meadow. Yeah. It was pretty nice. I spent 45 minutes laying around (it was sunny and warm) and hiked to the top of Wesser Bald, where a fire tower offered panoramic views of the valley below. In fact, it's possible to see Fontana Dam from the tower (it's a three or four day hike for me to Fontana). I made it to Wesser Bald shelter at a respectable 445, particularly after some extended breaks. It took a few hours to start a decent campfire. As Dances with Wolves would say, morale improved. Morale got a little better when two section hikers from Alabama presented the group with two pints of whiskey! Thank you Kate and Katie! Your generous donation to the herd certainly had a positive impact on morale. Again, I sought refuge in the shelter. Honestly, I prefer to tent: it's warmer, and I sleep better there. But...the weather forecast called for rain at 3am, and even though tomorrow will be a short day, I'll almost always choose to avoid packing a wet tent, thank you very much.For the record, it rained its ass off at 6am.