Date: 2015-04-28
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassfras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.5

2045.2 miles to go.Last night, it was late and I was tired, so allow me to add a few more comments here that I had intended to include in yesterday's:The trail was rougher than I think I've seen it yet. Some of the trail going down into the NOC consisted of huge, cleft boulders, which left steps two and even three feet deep. Some were bad enough that I had to kind of climb down, instead of step down, and many, many were LARGE step downs for me - I felt bad for the short people.Also, it seems like spring has sprung, almost overnight. When I started the trail, it was mostly bare trees on bare mountain slopes covered in dead, brown leaves and sticks. Over the weeks, green has started to emerge, but the slopes leading down to the NOC were just BURSTING with plants: whole mountainsides covered in green, huge patches of white, violet, yellow, and orange flowers, and even trees covered in green leaves with blooms of white, red, or orange.Enough of the past, let's get on with today:After I had packed up and cleared out of my bunk at the NOC, I headed back down to the restaurant on the river. While waiting for my breakfast burrito, I texted This Guy to get the number of the rafting company. I called them, but they weren't open yet. I finished my breakfast, got a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit to go, then went across the street to the gear shop and did some shopping.That done, I called the rafting company and got the details on their trips. I couldn't afford to stay the whole day, but they assured me that I could do the trip and be back at the trail by 3:30. I texted This Guy that I'd be there, and caught a ride.We got our wetsuits (the river was 48 degrees that day) and oars, and piled into the bus with some others. They drove us up the Nantahala River and we put in the river. The next two and half hours was an absolute blast, alternating between riding the rapids and floating on a beautiful, serene mountain river.The surrounding mountains were gorgeous and towering, and at one point an osprey dropped in and snatched a fish out of the river right in front of us! At one point we entered a quiet stretch, and the guide announced that they called this area the swimming hole, and asked if anyone wanted to go swimming. I promptly handed off my paddle and leapt in .... the water was definitely only 48 degrees! Luckily, I spent the rest of the trip basking in the sun, and was soon warm again.After the rafting, This Guy and I got hot showers and changed back into dry clothes, then got a ride back to the NOC. Sure enough, we got back about 3:30. This Guy and I decided to get a hot meal before we headed out. We ran into more friends, did some more gear shopping, one thing lead to another, and we ended up not hiking out until almost 8.I did have to order some new shoes. I noticed back in Franklin, NC, that I was getting holes already ... I love how light these shoes feel, but apparently they're just not tough enough for the AT.We hiked for two or three hours before it got so dark that we had to use lights. The moon was out, but only partial and behind a cloud. Night hiking was fun, and we made decent time. At one point, we passed a small clearing that had a lone, dead tree with twisted and gnarled branches - it looked like the set for a Scooby Doo scene.We got into the shelter around 11, and started setting up our hammocks. After about thirty minutes, four other hikers arrived as well! After I set up, I went to sleep.(Hint: if there is a photo here there may be other new photos in the photo section.)