Date: 2014-04-08
From: winding stair gap / Franklin, NC

To: near burningtown gap
Miles today: 15.0
Weather: scattered clouds

Tuesday, April 8: day 10We woke up at the usual hiker time, sunrise. Our internal clocks are kinda set to the time now. We cleaned up and packed our gear and grabbed some breakfast from the hotel. I finished up my snack cakes and had about 1500 more calories before we head out. The shuttle driver, an elderly lady, probably around her late 70's, arrived in a matching neon track suit arrived promptly at 8:30 to take us to the trail head. As we wandered up the mountain roads we chatted a bit an learned that besides being a shuttle driver she also volunteers to do trail maintenance around her town. And she's been volunteering since 1990. She was really a nice lady and dropped us right at the beginning of the trail.I said goodbye to Gail, the shuttle driver, and Trish, and set off for another day of hiking. It was a bit chiller today after the rains but the beginning of the day was really nice. Very cool mists coming around the mountains and rays of sun trying to peak through the cloud cover. A cold but exhilarating day. About 4 miles in, I stopped to talk to a section-hiker. He was from Seattle and looked around 45. Galahad was his trail-name. No trail-name for me yet. He was section hiking from Springer to Fontana Dam (the beginning of the Smokies). He had some UL gear but a giant SLR telescopic lens for some cool nature photography. He was a nice guy and we chatted for 10 minutes for so before we went on out way. After noon, the weather took a turn from chilly to downright cold. And right when I was hitting a Bald (a lookout point at a mountain top cleared by settlers in the 1800's). It was a really great 360 degree view of the towns and mountains around and where I was and had to go. I after looking at the views, stuffing some trail mix and beef jerky in my mouth, I wrapped up in my cold weather gear and headed in my way.At the beginning of the day, I wanted to get 16 miles in but after looking at the map, and thinking about when my food package from my parents would arrive; I slowed down a bit. I sat near a stream, rested and walked half a mile more to a campsite, about 124 miles from Springer mtn. Not a bad 10 days hike. After setting up camp I decided to slow down tomorrow and take a half-day. I'm only 13 miles from my resupply shipment but the package shouldn't arrive till tomorrow or the next day. And considering I'm in the mtns, I'm thinking it will arrive on Thursday afternoon. No need to rush and today my heels hurt. Not sure if it was from the rain soaked boots or just the constant beating of the trail. Either way, it will be nice to have an easy day. After I setup camp and ate a cold dinner (still no stove), I called mom & dad and chatted for a bit. They want to hike for a couple days after I get out of the Smokies. Should be a week or more. It will be lots of fun to hike for a couple days with them. I'll be a bit slower but have some fun too. Also got to call Monique and talk for a bit. The mountains are cold but you get much better cell reception up here. After we talked, I was a bit tired from the days hike and hit the hay around 9 or so.