Date: 2008-04-03
From: Hiawassee Inn

To: Franklin NC
Miles today: 85.0
Weather: overcast clouds

I hiked all day in the rain again today in shorts and gators and finally made it to Franklin NC. I decided not to even wear my rain gear because I get more wet from sweat than the rain itself. Anyway, that puts my trip total above 100 miles at about 115 miles. They say about 15-30 percent of people quit at Neels Gap which is only about 35 miles into the trail. I still have about 56 miles to go until I reach Fontana Dam but I am spending the night in Franklin with RJ again. We will be taking another zero day tomorrow. Everyone else seems to be getting off the trail tonight too and taking the day off tomorrow as well because the weather is so bad and it is expected to be even worse tomorrow. My right achilles feels the best it has felt since it started to bother me awhile back. So far the AT in North Carolina seems to be designed a lot nicer than Georgia. The trail is more on the top of the mountains instead of going around and up and down like it did in GA. The other day it was like I was rock climbing on all fours up Albert Mountain. Everywhere you look there is a mountain. I can't get over it. It is truly amazing! The last couple of nights I have spent in shelters because of the rain. I met a nice girl (aka Inchy) at one of those shelters. She just got back from the Peace Corps doing work in Ecuador. It is funny how everyone gets up in the morning and goes off on their own and at their own pace but we all seem to wind up together again at night. We would hike further than we actually are each day but once we get to a shelter with room available we take it for fear that the next one will be full. Two nights ago I spent the night in a beat up old shelter with boards that moved and writing on the wall that said "Welcome to Hell." Yesterday I ran into a wedding that was taking place right off the forest road. They had all kinds of food and drinks (hot dogs and hamburgers) for the thru hikers. This afternoon volunteers from a Baptist Church were handing out food and drinks to the hikers, and tomorrow morning we are going to eat breakfast at a local Baptist Church where hikers eat free. When I called Paula tonight she told me that she got the flowers I sent to her for her birthday yesterday. I could not believe she got them because I ordered them from the top of Indian Mountain on April 1st and the reception was so bad I didn't even think the lady could hear me.Scott, I am about 30 miles from Wesser (the Nantahala Center). I am looking forward to hiking with you about 60 miles (one week) to Clingman's Dome which is the highest point on the AT at 6,643 feet elevation. Approximately a week after that maybe I could meet John, Cindy, and Jake at Hot Springs NC which is a little north of Asheville. I would try to make it to Jessi's game at Wake Forest but it is just too far. Go Hawkeyes!I don't know when my next update will be, but my goal from here remains Fontana Dam. Tomorrow will be a well deserved zero day. I am looking forward to drying out and resting. The AT is much more difficult than I anticipated. It is up, down, and up again. I have to stop and catch my breath sometimes going uphill. My trail aquaintance Papa Bear had to stop because of his heart. I am going to keep hiking. Thanks for your support!