Date: 2004-03-15
From: Carter Gap Shelter

To: Rainbow Springs Campground
Miles today: 12.8
Weather: overcast clouds

Woke up at around 6 a.m. to rain. The first day of rain for the trip. I wasn¢t looking forward to it. But it was fine, and learned the lesson about rain gear. Firsthand: you either don¢t have rain gear and you get soaked, or you do have raingear and you get soaked because you sweat so much. I chose the latter. But knowing I was going to get a shower at the end of the day helped. There was an unbelievable climb over Albert Mountain, but other than that the day went fast. Finished the 13 miles by 1:00 p.m. after a 7:40 a.m. start. But I took a wrong turn going to the campground and went out of my way a bit, but got a ride to make up for my mistake. Did laundry, took a shower. Called Dad, had a frozen pizza, and life is good. Rain is forecast for tomorrow as well, but I don¢t mind. What I noticed was the rain brought out such great colors. Because we are on the end of winter, everything is still different shades of brown or dull green. But with the rain, everything was vibrant. There were some muddy parts, but what a great day. I¢ve been consistently camping and hiking with Feather and Wings, the mother/daughter team from New Hampshire, which has been great. They¢re great to talk with and we seem to have the same pace. They¢re taking a zero day at the NOC in a couple of days, so I might lose them, but I¢m sure I¢ll see them again soon. Great people. I also found out today that the reason I haven¢t been seeing Grace or Ross signing the trail register is because THEY ARE BEHIND ME! Come to find out that they took a zero day in Helen the same day I did, and now I¢m ahead of them. They must know by now since they¢ve been seeing my name in the registers. I¢ll run into them soon I bet. I¢m almost caught up to Leki-less and Bloody and the gang, but not sure I¢ll ever catch Burn since he¢s now doing 20 mile days. I have closed the gap by a couple of days, but he¢s still 5 days ahead. A special hello to Scott, Jackie, Jen, Molly, Elana, Brendan, Aviva, Rob, Doris, Michal, Dale, Ryan, Lauren and all the rest at AOL.Songs sung in my head today        ¢BIG FISH, SMALL POND¢   - Maria Gentile        ¢KINDNESS¢   - Maria Gentile        ¢NEW WORDS¢        ¢IN THE UPPER ROOM¢Best moment of the day: Doing 13 miles in less than 6 hours.Worst moment: Not taking full advantage of meeting all the people I can.3/16/04 Starting Point: RAINBOW SPRINGS Destination: CAMPSITE   Distance: 13.6 miThe day started at around 7 a.m. Slept pretty well in the bunkhouse, but heard rain outside. Took a fifteen minute shower trying to savor the feeling. Was all packed up and Mala offered a ride to the trail instead of waiting for the shuttle at 9:30, a late start. It rained off and on all morning, but still made some good time. Got to the top of Wayah Bald and it had cleared up and afforded some great views. Met Buchanan up there ¢ haven¢t seen him since day 2, and another guy I haven¢t seen since day one, don¢t know his name. Found out that Bloody Cactus and Leki-less and Nuffy are just ahead of me. I will catch them at the NOC tomorrow. I heard Nuffy is going to get off the trail in Fontana on Saturday. That saddens me, but I don¢t blame her ¢ if your head and heart aren¢t in it, then why? So I get ahead of Buchanan and the nameless one and hike another 12 mile to the campsite Feather, Wings and I decided we were staying at. I¢m setting up my tent just off the trail and Buchanan, Nameless and Eric the Red come walking by, not seeing me, and discussing if Brother Nature ¢played for the pink team.¢ I know it shouldn¢t have made me mad, but you know, I¢m just out here hiking, just getting by like everyone else. So yes, I was annoyed, I was hoping to leave the ¢office gossip¢ back in the office, but I guess people can be thoughtless everywhere.Last night Feather called her husband back in New Hampshire. When she got back in the bunkhouse, there were tears in her eyes. She told me she didn¢t know if she felt better or worse after the call. And I realized how much easier I have it out here, not having a significant other back at home. Of course I miss people, but a spouse is different. And if I had the choice, I would definitely choose to have the husband back at home. But at this point it made me see that I have it easier than some other people out here. Wow, it made me grateful for the trail, my life, and the whole experience. Lucky, Lucky, Lucky.Songs sung in my head today        ¢SUICIDE IS PAINLESS¢        ¢I¢M WITH YOU¢        ¢TAKE THESE BROKEN WINGS¢        ¢ON BROADWAY¢Best moment of the day: The glorious views form Wayah Bald.Worst moment: Having a little more of my hope that someday gay people will be considered the same as people with blue eyes¢¦ having a little piece of that hope chipped away.3/17/04 Start: CAMPSITE Destination: NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER Distance: 16.7 miAlmost 17 miles today! The night was friggin¢ cold, and I couldn¢t find a comfortable position for my knee, so I didn¢t get a great night of sleep, but I was up by 6:15. Packed up in the freezing wind and was on the trail by 7:15. Crisp morning with some clouds that soon gave way to sun. A really wonderful morning with some great views and TRAIL MAGIC! At Burningtown Gap, Apple had set up his huge dome tent ¢ about 20 feet in diameter ¢ where he had coffee, hot chocolate, doughnuts, hotdogs, snickers and other stuff. This is something he does every year, and I was so grateful, and so touched by the kindness. Kept plugging away even though we found out that the NOC bunkhouse was full. So Wings, Feather and I were able to call ahead and reserve a room for them, and I got a cottage at a nearby place. Se we kept up a fast pace, ran into Honeypie and Hoss, the two guys who were so curious about my sexual orientation yesterday. I didn¢t have many words for them, which seemed to amuse them. No big surprise considering the source. And FINALLY, I caught up to Leki-less, Joy, Bloody Cactus and Nuffy. It was great to finally meet these internet friends, and they are great people. Had a really great view off Jumpout Point that moved me. I bid a very fond farewell to Wings and Feather who are taking a zero day tomorrow. I sure hope I meet up with them again because I grew very fond of them. They are fun, funny, great athletes and kept me sane. Looking forward to our next meeting. Today was a truly wonderful day. Everything was there. Meeting some great people. Seeing the countryside in a way that I had only dreamed of. Working hard to make good time. A hot shower. And kindness from Strangers. I was full. I was overflowing with wonderment and awe. All the things I hoped for form the trail happened to me in one day. It just reminded me that I need to find the wonderment and awe not only on the trail, but off. Hopefully I can learn in the months to come that whether I¢m on the trail or working to pay bills, or performing on a stage ¢ I can find the magic and awe if I just become more aware. People may find this overly sentimental, but I do believe in magic and miracles, wherever they come from. I expect nothing, but hope for everything. And I hope I can become more and more grateful for it all. I¢m learning.I¢ve decided my tent it named Bubba.Songs sung in my head today        ¢IT¢S A SUNSHINE DAY¢        ¢UNDER THE BOARDWALK¢        ¢REUNITED¢        Best moment of the day: Being utterly full up of the views allowed me today.Worst moment: Having this day come to an end.3/18/04 Start: NOC Destination: GABLE GAP SHELTER Distance: 22.2 miWell, it¢s out of the way: my first 20 mile day. 22.2 to be exact. I really didn¢t plan on this, but things kind of fell in place. I was on the trail by 8:20, with a whole lot of up facing me out of the NOC. And, in addition, it was raining. The rain kept up for about 3 hours and then off and on during the afternoon clearing up a bit around 4:30. I got to the first shelter at around 11:30, with a good pace despite the climb. By that time everything I was wearing was soaked. So I headed out for the next shelter, knowing that a friend, Daniel, was in front of me. I was feeling pretty good, and made a deal with myself: if I made it to Brown Fork Shelter by 3:30, and AND Daniel had gone on to the next one, I would go, too. Right before the shelter was this insane climb up some ¢un-named cliff¢ that about killed me, and it was raining. I had to stop and catch my breath about 8 times up that thing. I made it to Brown Fork at 3:28 p.m., and Daniel was sitting there for a rest, just on his way to Cable Gap Shelter. I asked him to wait while I got some water and said I would go with him. Those last 6 miles were tough. Luckily I was able to talk with Daniel which made the time go faster and take my mind off the fact that my knees were quickly failing me. Daniel¢s a nice guy. From Tallahassee. Just graduated with a finance degree, and is planning on law school in the fall. He¢s already been accepted to Harvard and Yale, which he was extremely shy to say. We finally made it to Cable Gap shelter at about 6:30, and I am dead. A surprising amount of people here. I think there¢s 8 all together, so I¢m tenting, which should at least be warmer. The temp is already about 42. One of the guys here is Harrison, who I met back on day four. His trail name is now Mousetrap. He and I are going to try and get a room at the Hike Inn Tomorrow in Fontana. Get some laundry done, a good dinner. Luckily with my long day today, it¢s only 6 miles into Fontana. My legs will be happy. Sorry, no big philosophical hoo-haw tonight, daddy is way too tired.Songs sung in my head today        ¢IT¢S RAINING MEN¢        ¢RAINING ON THE INSIDE¢        ¢EVERYBODY¢S WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND¢        ¢DANIEL¢I¢ve named my hiking poles ¢ The Leki brothers ¢ SLEEK and Creaky Leki.        Best moment of the day: Finishing my first 20 mile day.Worst moment: Finishing my first 20 mile day.