Date: 2013-03-14
From: Winding Creek Gap (Franklin, NC)

To: Wayah Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: few clouds

Started at:Winding Creek GapSlept in a little bit today and updated a few days of my journal, I certainly was not as productive as I wanted to be on my journal though. Ron Haven picked us up and proclaimed his VERY WELL rehearsed shpeal about how we should resupply before the smokies which was helpful in some ways to us but in the back of my mind all I could think of was how he would end up with 90% of the money I'd spend if I spent it his way. Salesmen as good as me bother me, which bothers me too. However, the options were weighed into my decisions and were helpful so I can't hold any distaste towards the man.We hit the trail hard by 11:30am with a bus fuuuuull of thru-hikers, it was quite overwelming at first. From my "group" it was just Chris, Cass & myself, Chickadee stayed in town to meet up with her dad who would help her resupply and then hike with her. I hiked mostly on my own today meeting up with other during FreshGround's Trail magic.Fresh Ground gets his own paragraph. This is a former thru-hiker, electrician by trade. He is an AT enthusiast and appreciates the hikers that hike as much if not more than the trail itself. This year he's found so much joy in providing endless Magic to the trail whenever possible. If you remember when the thought of hot dogs got my group and I to Woody Gap in time for the shuttle, that was him. Now he was here. When I come out of the Smokies he claims to be there too! He has endless hot dogs, hamburgers, coffee, tea, water, fruits and more for the hikers. He's been known to give certain articles of gear away such as his own design of a coffee brewing device, as well as trekking poles to a girl who either broke hers or didn't have them. He IS a trail angel. It amazes and motivates me at the endless enthusiasm he portrays as hikers come around. Keep in mind this is his way of "giving back" from having a good year in business, I love it. If I can identify where the trail lacks trail magic and organize boyscout troops along the trail to provide even a portion of what he does, I'll have completed a newfound goal. That will take place during the 2014 thruhike season though if all goes well.The weather was beautiful for the rest of the hike and the views were phanominal. When I was atop Wayah Bald taking in the view I met ANOTHER former thru-hiker named Squash. Second day in a row I was offered trail gold, more beer. I would probally have passed and just enjoyed the conversation except for the fact that I had left-over pizza in my bag. I took it to go! We did chat for some time, soon accompanied by a thru-hiker from Boston/Providence I never met before, his name was AYCE(All-You-Can-Eat). He pointed out how you could see the Albert Mnt. fire tower from where we were, it was a mere dot on-top of a far away mountain. That put in perspective for the first time how far we are going in a day or two's time. My dinner was an a simple joy. The only thing better than pizza and beer, was hiking pizza 11 miles and beer 1 mile into camp and enjoying it around friends. I shared the pizza, food makes friends and smiles.I procrastinated putting up my hammock so unfortunately I did a really shotty job in the dark, spent far too much time around the campfire with my friends that night. I would spend far too much time around a campfire any night with my trailfriends, the conversation jokes and atmosphere is uplifting. That feeling of comrodery sticks with you for days and helps keep your spirits up.The Rooster SleepsSlept at: Wayah Bald Shelter