Date: 2008-03-26
From: Dicks Creek Gap

To: Winding Stair Gap - Franklin, NC - (5 day report)
Miles today: 40.1
Weather: clear sky

March 26, 2008   Day 16      Greetings from the Microtel in Franklin, NC. (mile 107.6)   Still feeling very good both physically and mentally.   I am finally starting to get my hiking legs, but I still have to make frequent brief standing stops for a minute or two on the very steep up-hills. I am also starting to get into the rythem of the trail. I really enjoy being on my own walking in the woods, and in taking every opportunity I can to stop and soak in the views. I also have my daily routine of breaking camp, getting water and meals, and setting up in the evenings pretty much down pat.   Many of the group that I got to know fairly well over the first two weeks have either left the trail or are moving at a faster pace. There doesn't seem to be as many hikers as there were in the begining. This is fine by me, but I am sure that there will be waves of hikers moving up the trail as time goes on.    Because I am going slower than most I usually see people at shelters and/or resting spots, then everyone tends to spread out over the trail and not see much of each other during the course of the day. A couple of days ago I spoke with a weekend hiker who said that he saw almost no one going north one day - and was amazed that he had passed 39 NOBO's when he turned around and headed back south the next day.      Most of the trail so far has been running in the 3,000-5,000 ft elevation range. It is still mostly a vast carpet of brown leaves with barren gray trees and rocks. This is actully a good thing because many of the scenic vistas will be mostly blocked out once the foliage comes in. However - the trail does have many sections were it runs through lush tunnels of green mountain laurals and rodedendrums, especially in North Carolina. (I know - my spelling is awful)   Well - Here is a update since my last report from Hiawassee, GA:      3/22/08Dicks Creek Gap to Bly Gap (8.9 miles)---------------------------------------------------    Sunny and warm. Mostly clear views.   After a nice continental breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express Brad, Aggie, and I got a ride back to Dicks Creek Gap and headed north up the trail.        This was a fairly tough day of hiking with a lot more up hills than down hills.   Two things of note happened today.    1.) I saw my first snake, a small 18" garder snake. The only other wildlife I have seen so far is birds and squerrels. 2.) I crossed the State Line into NORTH CAROLINA (mile 76.3)   Shortly after the state line I camped at Bly Gap for the night. There were a couple of of young guys from Alabama, a guy named Beau from MS, Brad & Aggie, and an older man named Jerry from TX.   I set-up my hammock and called it an early night.   Beau set up only the second other hammock that I have seen so far. It went down into the 20's that night. I was very warm with my PeaPod and sleeping bag. The next morning Beau told me he was freezing all night long. He is doing a eight day SOBO section hike and the next two nights were just as cold or colder. Hope he made out OK.      3/23/08 - Easter SundayBly Gap to Standing Indian Shelter (7.7 miles)---------------------------------------------------------  Another sunny and mild day with good mountain vistas.   Plenty of ups and downs but nothing too difficult.   At the Deep Gap fire road three 2007 thur-hikers (Poppy, Shadow & NumbToe) had set-up some Trail Magic of sandwiches, snacks, soda's, and beer. Poppy plans to migrate north and set-up in several locations along the trail this year. He mentioned doing lobsters in Maine (Yes!)   I arrived at the shelter early in the afternoon and decided not to press on any farther. I could see Standing Indian Mtn from the shelter and decidied not to try it after a long day of hiking.   Eric & AquaMaria and Brad were there. I met Lotus & Brett as well as several other hikers.      I set-up my hammock near the shelter, cooked stroganoff pasta for dinner and called it an early night.         3/24/08Standing Indian Shelter to Betty Creek Gap (11.3 miles)------------------------------------------------------------   Cold gray day with off and on snow flurries, some brief periods of sun.   Woke-up about 7:00am and my thermometer read about 20 degrees. My camelback was frozen soild. My hands and feet were cold as I broke camp but I was surprising comfortable for as cold as it was. I guess my choice of (non-cotton) clothing is working out.   I heated water for oatmeal and hot chocolate then hit the trail. The initial climb up Standing Indian Mtn was not too bad first thing in the morning. At 5,498 ft I think this is highest point on the trail to date. From there NC seems like it is mostly down hill.   I stopped breifly at Carter Gap Shelter but decidied to do a few more miles today so that I could get to the road into Franklin, NC at Winding Stair Gap tomorrow.   I hiked another 3.7 miles to the camping area at Betty Creek Gap. On the way I stepped off the trail and took a break at a rock overlook with a beautiful scenic vista. It was late in the afternoon when I arrived at Betty Gap. I was the only one there for the night.   I don't think it got out of the 30's all day so once I stopped walking and the sun when down the temperature dropped quickly. After I set-up my hammock and tarp I built a fire in the firepit (easy as pie) and cooked dinner.   I went to bed before dark and felt perfectly at home all night alone in the woods. Just a few small creatures sniffing around my tarp.      3/25/08Betty Creek Gap to Winding Stair Gap. (12.2 miles)---------------------------------------------------------   Another cold sunny day.   Again it was about 20 degrees when I got up at 7:00am. This time I had emptied my camalback on the fire last night and kept my 1 liter water bottle in the sleeping bag with me. I broke camp, ate a couple of Pop Tarts for breakfast and headed up the trail. Again - mostly down hill.   The trail in NC seems much better planned than in Georgia. It crosses dozens of running springs and has some great moutain vistas. Several sections of the trail are carved out the sides of some tall steep clifts. In a couple of places spring water had frozen on the trail in areas where one slip could mean a fall of several hundred feet off the side of a mountain. Awesome.   At Bear Pen Trail the AT climbs almost straight up 400' (hand over hand in spots) to the top of Albert Mtn (5,250) where there is a huge fire tower. It was a clear sunny day with clear 360 degree views. I took break and ate a second Pop Tart before moving on up the trail.   Near Glassmine Gap someone had placed stones in the shape of "100" - the hundred mile mark of the AT.         After a very tough climb up out of Wallace Gap there was a long down hill to the parking area at Winding Step Gap and Hwy 64.   A church group was there doing Trail Magic by providing snacks for hikers coming off the trail and calling for shuttles into Franklin, NC. Dirty Harry & Knuckles (Chacago), and Jon & Stephanie (TN) had arrived at the highway just before me and we rode into town together.   I opted to stay just outside town at the Microtel close to food, a grocery store, and an outfitters. The others went on to one of Ron Haven's motels in town.      At the Microtel I ran into Dirty Old Dog (Mike Kerr) who has a very painful upper leg injury and is going home to PA for medical treatment tomorrow. Our paths have crossed many times over the last two weeks and it was very sad that he is getting off the trail. We had pizza and beer at Pizza Hut across the steet from the hotel. He said he bought a round trip ticket out of Ashville. I think he has plans to move on to other things - but - you never know, he may be back.      3/26/08Franklin, NC - ZERO Day.---------------------------------------------------   This morning I went to Three Eagles Outfitters (next to the hotel) for alcohol fuel for my stove, and to Ingles for food for the 3-4 day trek to Natahala Outdoor center (NOC) in Wesser, NC. I spent most of the evening updating this journal and now I am going to call it a day.   I am back on the trail tomorrow morning. It may be a week or so before my next update.   My Best to You All;   Wes