Date: 2012-04-18
From: Cold Spring Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 11.7
Weather: moderate rain

It poured all night.  I went to the bathroom early during one of the lighter spells and was glad for the foresight.  Folks had to leave in waves because there wasn't very much dry space to stage your pack.  Closest to the front went naturally.  The two women were first and early.  Team Canada was up next and I got in on the third wave.  Right before Team Canada left, Mange sang out, "Don't stop 'til you get to NOC."  The Professor chimed in with, "What's that?!!"and they enthusiastically collaborated for a bit leaving the shelter in a much lighter mood.  I have had this song in my head ever since.  When I left, I made sure I was decked out in all of my rain gear including plastic grocery bags around my feet so my sopping shoes wouldn't prune up my feet in the first mile.  It turned out not to matter.  The trail was 8" deep in some places and you just had to trudge against the flow of the water.  Water bars were effectively useless and just served as an erosive waterfall furthering the distance next year's hikers would have to step.  It was awesome.  I didn't start out in that mood but I got there quick once I realized what the alternative was.  It's not like my life was in danger.  And I anticipated being dry and inside later.  I hiked and hiked through the fog until I found a lookout tower and I carefully navigated the creaking steps up the tower as it swayed in the wind.  I must have been a little delirious. I tried the first time with my pack on.  Silly.  The entire structure seemed unstable but I took some great photos up there as the wind swirled the clouds around the protruding dark land masses.  From here, it was all downhill to the NOC.  I met up with the crew from Maryland and Team Canada and we booked it.  We heard (made up) rumors that the NOC was running out of beer and hurried along the slippery trail.  For miles.  Like six miles.  Laughing and joking the entire time.  At one of the shelters, the crew changed and we ended up with Wild Bill, Cheetah, Mange, and I going full blast down the hill.  I really like the people I have been hiking with and felt comfortable enough with them to joke around a little.  A few pranks, a couple ridiculously tall tales and a snarky comment or two - I had been busting on them pretty hard for a few days now.  Mange could not figure out how I hadn't gotten a trail name yet.  Today was the day because he called me Honest Abe.  A truly fitting trail name, double entendre and all.  Plus, it elicits trust everywhere I go.  People seem to think it's because of the beard.  Fools!  Mange was even more impressed by the fact that the initials are H.A.  As in Ha!  Good times.  To the NOC..  We check into the overflow which is a solid half mile up the hill.  We were just a bunch of cold, wet hikers wandering about in the rain looking for an unmarked bunkhouse amongst many marked bunkhouses. We ran into Butcher and Easy Rider first, Team New Hampshire (Guano, Sun Beam, and Miss Bliss) next, and Friar and friends later as we walked around this little outdoorsy town situated on a river.  There were boats everywhere and you could tell that this town catered to paddlers.  Tonight it would cater to hikers.  We went for dinner at the local pub and ordered an impressive amount of food.  We might have even exceeded the weight limits for the table supports.  I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich to split with Mange, an order of hummus, an order of their famous tator tots, a burger - the Dragon's Tail, which I added a patty (Hungry Hiker style) and extra pepper jack cheese plus a fried egg on top.  The table ordered a bunch of hot wings and I drank as many of the local beers as I could including the Nantahala IPA, Highland Oatmeal Porter, Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, and Ska Brewing IPA.  Rhyno eventually joined us too for a beer but was run off by a pesky waiter who overreacted to many other things over the course of the night.  It was great material for many laughs.  Our waiter, the cool one, even grabbed us the leftover pizza from a huge party behind us and put it into to-go boxes for us.  His tip was substantial.  The six of us then headed back to overflow but ran into New Hampshire and told them about the party up the way while handing them roadies.  It was on.  We had beers, pizza, ice cream, friends, music, smiles, and laughter out on the big porch overlooking the forest.  I did laundry a bit later after things wound down (I even made 50 cents on the deal) and got a shower before having a solid night of sleep.