Date: 2011-03-09
From: Albert Mountain Bypass Trail

To: Franklin, NC
Miles today: 9.8
Weather: heavy intensity rain

I woke around 4:00 am and I tried to go back to sleep but it wasn't to be. I finally decided I would be in Franklin early. I got everything together in the tent and packed my pack. The only thing I needed to do was throw in the tent and hike. I think it was before 5:00 am when I started hiking the Bypass Trail since there was nothing up there I was going to see in this weather. I went by the Big Spring Shelter but no one was stirring. It was pouring consistently with no let up. I had my gloves, raincoat and rainpants on. They worked quiet well over an underarmour long sleeve coldware shirt. The wind was whipping up top but was knocked down some as you came down in elevation. The best part was that it was coming from behind. My hood on the jacket blocked it and I was mostly warm. I got to the Rock Gap Shelter at about 7:50. Unfortunately I had 3.7 miles left to get to Winding Stair Gap by 9:00 for the daily morning pickup by Haven's Budget Inn. I figured I would give it a try. I was getting wet feet and the gloves were soaking through. I could have stopped here or a mile down the road for the hotel shuttle but I would only be standing around for more than half an hour so I decided to hike on to Winding Stair Gap. Right after crossing the Wallace Gap pickup area the trail went up in an unexpectedly hard climb. I figured I would be close to 9:00 but doubted I could make it. I was hoping that like some climbs they level quickly and then go down. This climb seemed to last forever and by this time I was getting pretty tired since I had not eaten since dinner last night. I arrived at the gap and checked my watch to see that I came in 20 minutes too late. I was hoping to get a signal where I could call the hotel to see when the next shuttle was before I started to thumb to town. I called and they told me someone would be there soon. It was still pouring and as I waited I was beginning to cool down quickly. Within 20 minutes Ron Havens, owner of three Franklin hotels pulled up and apologized for not getting there quicker. I really don't know how anyone could have been quicker. He is a great business man and real interested in the hiker community. I was at the hotel by 1000 and I was showered, clean and warm by 11:00. What really seems odd is how you can be out in the rain all morning, come in with shriveled fingers and toes and the first thing you want to do is take a shower. I set the heater and blower on high as I began to unload my pack, separating items as I went. The first pile is dirty clothes, then the next are things that I could hang in the room to dry, which was just about everything else. I put in my wash as I switched clothes on the racks to dry. By the time the clothes were washed and dried most of the other items were also dry in the room. Ron Havens runs an afternoon shuttle to town to the PO, outfitter, Walmart, Ingles, etc. Upon return I headed out to eat since I was starving. I hit the local steak house with Mainiac and called it a night warm, dry, clean and with a full stomach. It is already 9:15, well past hiker midnight so I am off to bed (a real one).