Date: 2013-04-05
From: Burningtown Gap, Aquone Cabins & Hostel

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 13.1

I slept so, so well. So well, in fact, it is as if my did a diagnostic scan and reported "OUCH!" My knees and ankles are sore. It could be the hking, but I'm guessing it is the weather. Either way the comfort of Aquone makes it very difficult to want to leave. But leave I must. Even when I go to check my boots and find a half inch of water sitting in the bottom. Ugh. I pour out the water. I take out the insoles only to discover they are in the wrong shoes. I've hiked the last 100 miles with half my shoes on the wrong feet. I shake my head at myself. I'm a little nervous to put them in the right shoes since they seemed to be working pretty well the way they were.Steve drove Dreamer and I back up to Burningtown (I lost a dollar betting Bismark it was "Burlington Gap." I should have known better) Gap. The same tent city was set up, but the occupants were starting to emerge. Buoyantly and dry, I bounced up the trail. The rain had stopped, but the ice was just starting to melt. Tree branches hung low and heavy over the trail, straining under the weight of a one inch ice incapsulation. We had to climb under and through downed trees and branches. Chuncks of ice continued to rain down on us, so we kept our rain gear and pack covers on. The path looked as if someone had walked along and dumped 10 & 20 lb bags of ice on the trail. There were at least 5 BIG trees that had collasped over night. Again, we thanked our lucky stars to have been safely tucked away in Steve & Maggie's care. At around noon I was approaching Wesser Bald, and boy did I need to tinkle. The thought of struggling with the pack seemed like a lot of work, so I decided to leave it on. I found a ledge, struggled to get my britches down (pack still on). I grabbed a little mountain laurel bush and held on as I squatted down. Though I've carried the pack almost 150 miles, I was surprised how much heavier and cumbersome and unmangeable it felt from the squatting/pants around the ankles position. I peered over the edge and suddenly realized how FAR down the ledge dropped (dangerously far). I had a flash of the laurel tearing out of the ground, me toppling backwards over the edge. I imagined someone finding me in a broken, bloody, indignant crumple at the bottom of the hill (pack still securely attached, of course). Surely I would earn a Darwin Award honorable mention. I shuttered and made a mental note to be sure to remove the pack next time.I decided to have lunch on the watchtower at Wesser Bald. For the first time in days I had a vista, and not just any vista. A 360 degree vista. I took photos and videos and sent an email to family letting them know that I had survived the night. I also decided to call ahead to the NOC to reserve a bunk forthe night. My tent was still wet, and I didn't want to contend with it (Dreamer is very convincing, and I'm easily swayed). The second half of the day was the exact opposite of the first. The clouds burned off in record time, leaving a blindingly blue sky. I started peeling off clothes, ultimately finding myself in shorts and long-sleeved shirt (sleeved pushed as high up my arms as possible) and sunglasses (Hallelujah!). Finally after 11 miles of down, some fantastic vistas, a few rock scrabbles and one really cool cave, we found ourselves at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. There were people and cars seemingly everywhere. It felt like a weird dream. Where did all of this come from?We got checked in and found our bunkhouse (Kephart #3) and ditched our bags. I went to the outfitterto see about new gloves and a new tent. They didn't have the gloves, and I couldn't afford the tent. Oh well. I ran into Tore and gave him a big hug. Friendships are so fast-formed here, especially given the shared experience of the crappy weather. Nimble also appeared. It took virtually no coaxing for Tore to convince me to have a burger and glass of wine next door. Jasmine and Dreamersoon joined us. Afterwards the restaurant had a free viewing of "Grizzly Man," handsdown the weirdest documentary (or was it a mock-umentary?) I think I've ever seen. When the lights came on I saw Two Stix. What a great night! I'm so glad I decided to stay.