Date: 2016-04-22
From: Sassafras Gap Shelter

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 10.0
Weather: light rain

4/22 -Day SixteenAfter I posted last night the storm broke wide open. It felt good to be dry in the shelter even if I was sleeping next to a girl named Dirty Bowl. In the morning the usual sunrise scramble went down as. Salami and Dirty Bowl were out early. Everyone was prepping for a wet walk although it was not raining when we all first started stirring. Unlike some folks, I like to piddle in the morning. Today my piddling scored me a hot cup of coffee/moca from Trek. As I was drinking it Tracie walked in.... Evidently she started hiking at 6 am from the NOC. She looked fairly tired and wet. I said my goodbyes to Trek, Tracie and Feel Good and headed out. Unlike all the other hikers I did not leave with my rain gear on. About 5 minutes into the hike it started drizzling. First I put my backpack cover on, then my rain jacket. I reached a small bald and finally broke out my rain pants as it was now a full on turd floater. The Cheoah Bald is supposed to have a great view. Today the view consisted of a wall of gray fog obscured in rain. I did not stay there long, as standing still meant to be cold because it was a little windy up there. The descents after Cheoah Bald (and all other descents today) were treacherous. They say no rain, no pain, no Maine, I got both today. They also say you will fall at least once. I got my fall in today. It was not a fall as much as it was a slide. However my ass did touch turf for a second so it's a fall. Damn those flat and slick rocks.I walked in the pouring rain and then it stopped for a while. I then realized I have not seen anyone yet today hiking. This kinda thought will immediately throw you. Into panic and start searching for the next white blaze. No, I was not lost and soon I saw both a white blaze and a dude named Farmer Luke come hiking by. Farmer Luke carried a light pack and was wearing Choco sandals (no sox). He was as wet as a dog and did not seem to care.I caught up with Farmer Luke at Stecoah Gap. There they have picnic tables and a busy road. Someone left a pile of apples and bananas. I ate an apple. As I was eating a man stopped by with some waters. I also did something new today. I broke out my stove and made a hot lunch. I first ate a pack of tuna flavored with hot sauce and then some four cheese instant patatoes that I have packed since Hiawassee! I spoke with Luke and got to know him a little. Then his hiking friends Jack (from London) and Jules (a 65 year old lady that lives of the grid in Northern California came off the trail. I was just leaving so we all kind of followed each other. The climb next was Jacob's Ladder. It was billed as a steep SOB!Luke and Jack went ahead. I followed Jules up Jacobs Ladder. Her pace was like mine. The difference was she did not stop. Jacob's Ladder was steep, but I expected something like you see on the package of Cliff Bars. That it wasn't . But before I knew it I was descending and seeing the sign for Brown Fork Gap Shelter ....my goal for the day. And it is a good thing I was stopping there as there was lightning starting to rumble in the not so distance. I hiked fast to the shelter. There was one person in the shelter.... Jack from London. We said hello and then the bottom dropped out and it really began to rain.Jack and I were discussing how odd it was that on a rainy night only two people were in a shelter! That's when the wet rat brigade started to appear.... Ghost, Ranger, Holy Diver, Sundown, Mayfly, Trek and Feel Good. Every one of them was soaked to the bonesWe made makeshift clothes hangers and ate and had a great time talking about the day. Most of those guys were the ones who white water rafting at the NOC and Mayfly went fly fishing (and caught some fine trout!)The shelter is stuffed tonight. For the first time in my hike there are no woman at the shelter (Tracie was picked up by Odie on the bus at Stecoah gap). With no woman the guys were free to be guys and we had some good laughs. We hike into Fontana tomorrow.