Date: 2018-03-12
From: Wayah Bald Shelter

To: Teleco Gap - Nantahala Mountain Lodge
Miles today: 8.4

Gandal, the final hiker from Glyph, Switch, and Crafty¢s group, joined us in the Wayah Shelter last night, making us a cozy six. The rain set in just as we were all getting comfy in our sleeping bags and the lights went out (sunset that is). The rain continued through the night, changing over to snow just before sunrise. At 6:00, I was the first to brave the elements, as I used the red light on my headlamp to find my way up a hill behind our shelter, where our food bags were hanging from a pine tree. By 8:00 Which Way and I were meandering down the snow covered trail with a belly full of grits. It snowed on and off all day and the fog ebbed and flowed with the wind and contour of the terrain. About halfway into the hike we stopped to grab a snack and Glyph passed us by. Not much further down the trail we came upon her as she was finishing up a break of her own. She was donning her pack using the technique she learned from us yesterday at Wayah Bald. Overjoyed with her newfound discovery, she proclaimed that it was much more efficient and caused less torque on her spine than the traditional method of slinging the pack across her back. She had already taught her hiking companions the new technique. Could this be the start of a new trend? Glyph and the fast-moving Switch both passed us for a final time as we worked our way up Cooper Ridge Bald and Rocky Bald. At the top of Rocky Bald I called the Nantahala Mountain Lodge and asked that they send a shuttle to Tellico Gap, just 1.5 miles away. I had made reservations at the lodge two nights earlier after seeing that a potential Winter Storm was brewing. Maggie, a British gal, dispatched her hubby, Steve (a.k.a. Wiggle) to meet us at 12:30. Unfortunately, Which Way¢s knee was giving her problems again today, making the descents painful for her and slow for both of us. The hardest part of the journey for me thus far has been seeing the frustration brewing in her, as an otherwise great experience is constantly blunted by the attention she is diverting to pain and discomfort. While we are well aware that AT hikers are predisposed to some level of pain and agony, it sure would be nice if this burden could be lifted from her. I would gladly take on her pain so that she could fully enjoy this experience without distraction. Speaking of distractions, as we were descending the final 1.5 miles to Tellico Gap, a 14 percent grade, WW started singing songs to help deflect her attention away from the pain in her knee. I had sent her ahead when I made the phone call and when I caught up with her I joined in. When we were about 1/2 way down, Gandal slipped up behind us and seemed to approve of our diversionary tactics. Shortly after getting to Tellico Gap Steve arrived in a Subaru and we piled in. It was about a 20 minute drive to the lodge, during which time we learned that Steve was a retired British Special Service Forces Soldier and a former AT Thru Hiker. He told us that Maggie, his wife, a former British Intelligence Officer, ran a tight ship and if we just followed her instructions everything would go smoothly. When we arrived, Maggie, with her hands ion her hips, was positioned outside the lodge, where she sort of greeted us. After we grabbed out gear she immediately escorted us to a shed-sized building just outside the main lodge. There was a sign outside the door that read ¢Mud Room¢. We entered the room with the short, but confident, Maggie on our heels. Once inside, she informed us that all of our gear and clothes would remain in the Mud Room. ¢Now, start taking off the stuff you want washed and put it in here,¢ she said as she extended a grocery bag sized basket. We began shedding layers, wondering just how far this would go. Just when it was about to get awkward, Maggie, apparently satisfied that we did not have cooties or were not Russian spies, said, ¢That¢s enough, you can take off the rest before you get in the shower (making it clear that showers would commence immediately).¢ She then marched us inside the very nice lodge and up to our lovely king size room. ¢Put the rest of your clothes in the bag and bring them down to the dining area when you are done showering. Oh, and you can wear these while you wait for your clothes to be laundered,¢ Maggie instructed as she pointed to our loaner sweats and shirt. ¢Your pizza will be ready when you come down stairs.¢ Just when I was about to object to not being issued undergarments with our new wardrobe, she had to mention pizza. Shucks, we would have come down in all of our glory for pizza!  Of course the shower was great and the pizza was better. We saw one other Thru Hiker, Slosh, and two pairs of section hikers at the lodge. I know I had a little fun at Maggie¢s expense, but the place is really very nice and she and Steve are a good team. I guess I would run a tight ship too, knowing that some hikers wear their filth and stink like a badge of honor.We will keep a close eye on the forecast, but it looks like tomorrow it will be dry and cold for our steep drop down to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). Perhaps I can talk WW into shifting some weight to my pack in an effort to minimize the impact to her knee. For now, we are warm, dry, and CLEAN in our king size bed!¢Next Step Elevation Data:Ascent ~ 1,560Descent ~ 2,340Grade ¢ 8.8 Weather:Day ¢ 32 degrees / Light Snow and FogNight ¢ 20 degrees / Light Snow Over the Horizon: The NOC Anything worth doing, is better done TOGETHER--Which Way and Next Step!