Date: 2010-03-23
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 17What a glorious day to be on the Appalachian Trail. The weather has been fantastic and the big scary 6 mile, 3000' climb out of the NOC was not bad at all. Sure there were a few spots where my calves started burning but they never lasted long enough to light my pants on fire. The views were pretty nice and there was one spot I am surewad where the angels roosted the view was so divine. Any time I would get hot, I'd stop and the wind would cool me off. Any time I would get cool, I'd find a sunny spot and the sun would warm me up. And the rhododendron tunnels are like nature's air conditioner. So nice to hike through. The day started with watermellon and yogurt for breakfast with the three Ape munchkins, and then we headed out to take them to school. Nice kids, I am going to miss them. Then Naked Ape drove me back to the NOC to resume my hike. My first stop wad to the outfitter to pick up a new headlamp, but it was 9am and they didn't open till 10. So I sacrificed and sat around talking to other thruhikers. Always a nice thing to do. At the risk of sounding unmanly, Q-tip and Trinket were here and I was happy to see them. I hadn't seen Atip since Keeps gap when he raced down the trail to meet up with his brother trinket who was convalescing in Hiawassee. So 10 o'clock turned into 11 and naked ape and I was still sitting around shooting the breeze with everyone. Finally trinket and I decided we needed to get moving and I said farewell to my awesome trail angel, Naked Ape. A little later Qtip left and soon caught up. We hiked the rest of the way up together and I think this is the longest I have hiked with other people since I started. I liked the company.The shelter here at Sassafras Gap is pretty nice. Double Decker, big overhang and skylights. The best part was uthat Hermit had arrived early and already had a nice fire going. It was getting cold so that was a good thing. Lots of good people here tonight - Kashmir, Thinker, Cotton, Freddy the sleeper, hermit, qtip, trinket, and a few others. Soulsearcher and Boston were here but moved on to cook. Naked Ape had giving me a notebook to bring up here to use as a shelter register because so many of the past shelters have not had them. The registers are one of the primary ways information moves up and down the trail. People sign in with there plans and then others pass it around. Anyway, wouldn't you know it but this shelter had a register in it. I was a bad boy and tore out the 4 pages of entries and taped them into the one I brought up because it had this shelter name written in big letters on it. I will carry the other notebook until I find a shelter without a register and leave it there.I had another close call today but I am still calling it a nongfall. I am calling it going off trail slightly. There was a spot where a tree had fallen and left a huge pit in the trail where the root ball came up. I was stepping up from a root to a small ledge and lost my balance, but I was able to twist around fast enough that I was able to run down the wall of the pit and stop myself against the root mat standing straight up in the air. Then a couple quick steps and I was right back on the trail complaining about getting dirt under my nail. I do love this Ribs front pack. It has really helped me stay agile when my feet get me into trouble. OK it late and its getting cold fast. Time to pull the hands into the sleeping bag.Good night and sweet dreams to everyone out there not living the 6 mile, 3000' climb dream.