Date: 2018-03-20
From: Long Branch Shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap
Miles today: 7.2

Day 14Had the alarm set for 6:00 a.m. so we would have enough time to pack up and make the 7.2 miles to Winding Stair Gap to catch the 12:30 bus into town. As we packed it was still dark with the stars out. Everything is soaking wet and muddy from the rain and small thunderstorm we had last night. Decided to just get stuff into our packs and have a bar for breakfast and get going. We will deal with the muddy mess when we get to town. As we headed out we decided to leave a note for Emily that we had secured a room at the comfort Inn if she wanted to split it. We left the note in a baggy at the entrance to the shelter saying "Emily from Minnesota" with the pertinent information. We made good time up over one hill and down into Rock Gap. We decided to have a quick "real" breakfast of oatmeal and tea at the Rock Gap Shelter and decided we should be able to make Winding Stair Gap by 12:30 if we didn't dally too long. Tough steep climb out of Rock Gap, but then a nice ridge walk and long descent into Winding Stair Gap. On the descent we met a hiker we had been looking for since just before Blood Mountain, "Papa Dale". Apparently he had taken a nasty fall near Betty Creek and had to go to the hospital. He was slack packing South Bound from Wayah Bald to Rock Gap and then heading into Franklin. We chatted and said we would probably see him in town later. We made it to the gap in plenty of time and waited with a couple of young thru-hikers, Taylor from New Hampshire and Katherine from North Carolina who are hiking together. We stretched, and the shuttle soon arrived to bring us to the Comfort Inn. We had called along the trail to secure another night since we would be arriving on Tuesday, instead of Wednesday. The Comfort Inn is very nice, clean, and comfortable, and we are glad we decided to spend a little more money this time for our zero stay. Papa Dale and the others who were slack packing (Tabasco, Kingsman, Stub, Pass Me, and 1other hiker who we can't remember their names are also all here. They informed us that they are going to Wild Billy's BBQ at 6:00 tonight and to join them. We hustled to get our chores done as our gear is a mess. We showered, did laundry, dishes, cleaned and dried the tent, and generally "sanitized" our gear that's been lying in filth the last few days. We soon got a call from Emily saying she saw our note and would love to join us. We gave her the room number and she arrived not too long after. She said our note inspired her to hike on with the thought of a clean, dry room awaiting. We tried to clear some space in the room as our packs had exploded and we had gear strewn about the room. Mary and I headed across the street to Ingles to get a few more cleaning supplies and to give Emily a chance to get cleaned up. Once we all got settled it was 6:00 and we walked up the hill to join the other hikers for dinner. We ate pretty hearty as we really hadn't had lunch. Pulled Pork dinners and IPA's were on the menu. Again it feels good to be clean, full, and have a good group to converse with. I think everyone is getting stronger and getting into the groove. With snow and cold forecast, I think the zero will be wise.