Date: 2019-04-08
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.9
Weather: overcast clouds

The weather lies! This morning I woke up warm and dry and it wasn¢t raining, so I was able to pack up and have breakfast, but I knew there was more rain coming and I was not looking forward to it. I got out of camp around 9:30. The start of the day was a bit uphill, but there were some pretty steep downhills after that. It wasn¢t too slippery from last night¢s storm, but it was steep and rocky. I was making good time. I was not sure what I was going to do because I knew the rain was coming around 1pm, and I¢d definitely be at the NOC by then, but I wouldn¢t be at the shelter I planned by then. I didn¢t mind getting caught in the rain after the NOC, especially if I had had a dry morning and gotten there quickly.Unfortunately, the weather did not follow the forecast and it started raining around 10:30. I reacted quickly and got my rain coat on and my pack cover on, but I figured maybe it wouldn¢t be too bad, so I didn¢t dig for my rain pants. Bad decision there. It poured. There was thunder and lightning and I was caught up on this ridge in the middle of it all. In one aspect it was cool, but it was also really scary. It was all still steep downhill, so coming down that in the pouring rain was rough. It was puddling into a muddy slip-and-slide and I was drenched. At this point I was thinking I¢d stop at the NOC and dry off and then play it by ear. Without my rain pants, my socks and shoes got completely soaked. They might¢ve anyway because it was raining so hard, but it was uncomfortable. I continued to walk down the muddy path and it felt like I was walking in buckets of water. I was worried about my feet and getting them dry so I wouldn¢t get more blisters.At one point, it was so miserable being in that rain, that I started to sing along with my music. I¢ve never done that in the woods and definitely have struggled with stage fright my whole life. But I felt alone and free to sing out. It was pretty funny because the English guy Johnny (Honey Buns) came up right behind me as I was singing and I was taken aback and a bit embarrassed. He was friendly and just kept on hiking. I reached a shelter that was one mile from the NOC and was feeling good, but still soaking. I slipped once in the mud and thankfully my poles saved me. A lot of the trail today was on the ridge, so when I slipped, my foot slid down the side of the ridge and that was nerve-wracking. I kissed my poles haha those things are the best. I arrived at the NOC and found a bunch of hikers, all soaked from the rain and taking off their layers and shoes under the overhang. I joined them and saw Mountain Laurel and Chad again. I took off my shoes immediately for the sake of my feet. I went inside to ask about pricing, but I really didn¢t want to stay. I felt like I could push on and I really didn¢t want to change my plans, but I was soaked and my stuff was soaked and it was only going to get worse. I found Red Wiggler, Ringer, Kacy, Lexi, Honey Buns, and Polar Bear in one of the restaurants and they told me they had an extra space in their cabin that they rented. I had spent too much time going back and forth on what to do that I decided to just go for it and stay with them. The whole time I had a feeling that I shouldn¢t and that it would push me back so much, but I had to think ahead of how miserable I¢d be setting up in the rain, already soaked. And the bunkhouse at the NOC offered a bunk with no linens and no towel so had I decided to pay to stay there, I wouldn¢t have gotten any amenities anyway. At least the cabin offered a homey space with beds and a hot tub. I¢d have to share a bed with someone and I was not crazy about that idea because I don¢t really know this group too well. I¢m kind of bouncing from trail family to trail family. But I went ahead with it and stuck with my decision. The ladies running the cabin service really overcharge in my opinion. They charge $20 each way for the shuttle (it¢s a 5-min drive) and don¢t have any laundry here. It¢s an okay cabin, but I¢m not blown away by it. Everyone kept saying ¢omg yeah we¢re getting a cabin and it¢s going to be epic¢, but it¢s really just a few small bedrooms, a bathroom, and a hot tub. I don¢t mean to complain; I guess I just was feeling off about my decision all day and the cabin didn¢t make me feel like ¢wow that was an awesome decision¢. There was barely room to spread out and dry things and with no laundry, it was just not great. I will say, the hot tub was amazing. I love hot tubs, but haven¢t been in many in my life. This one was great. We all showered before getting in it so we were all clean. We had beers and relaxed. I spent my whole afternoon in that tub and it¢s the closest to a ¢zero¢ day that I¢ve gotten. I probably needed it honestly, but I¢m still stressed about planning. I put my feet against the jets to massage them and put my back against the jets too. Whole body relaxation. I had bourbon too, and we made chocolate chip cookies and ordered pizza. Ringer, that awesome man I wrote about before, was super generous (he paid for the whole thing, even though we¢re paying him back and he paid for the cookies and delivery situation) and told us all sorts of crazy stories about his life. He¢s awesome!  Again, there was a lot of weed going around. I did not partake, but it was interesting to see everyone getting toasted and asking questions like ¢describe yourself in 6 words¢ or ¢what is your ideal self?¢ Although I wasn¢t high, it led to a lot of deep conversations about relationships and love and life and it was nice. I find myself opening up a lot to these people even though I just met them! And Red Wiggler had a very similar situation to mine with his relationship, and his girlfriend also went and saw a therapist and had changed for the better, so it was nice to relate there, and to hear that he gave her another chance. I chatted with them all for so long that I was definitely starting to get tired of conversation, and headed to bed. My stuff is all still so wet. Ugh. I am sleeping next to Lexi tonight. Unfortunately, she came right into the room and turned the fan on. She¢s from Florida and I guess was hot? Lol. I¢m still wet from the day and the towels we had all got soaked too, so I am really not liking this fan. Brought me back to college roommate days. I¢m way more direct these days, but what¢s the point of complaining about the fan when I¢m so tired and it¢s one night? Oh well. I¢m happy with my decision and really bonded with these people, but it was hard for me to go off trail today and make that call. And I¢m still not dry, nor is my stuff. I do have reservations in Fontana in a few days, so I¢m looking forward to that, but it¢ll be some long days of hiking. Hopefully my rested body is ready for it. Popped my first blister today, but otherwise I¢m doing well! Song of the day: ¢We Find Love¢ by Daniel Caesar. Love is on my mind, as it was yesterday morning and today with the deep conversations. It¢s a great song and it¢s what I was singing to today.Little Debbie or Lil D haha