Date: 2017-03-15
From: Wallace Gap - Franklin NC

To: Wayah Gap Road
Miles today: 9.0

I had hoped to take a 9:00 shuttle to Wallace Gap where I came off the trail the other day and hike the 3.1 miles to Winding Stair Gap to position myself where many of the hikers had gotten for the shuttle out when I move north. Talked with Ron Haven at the Budget Inn (owner) to learn a shuttle was already being set up for other hikers to Wayah Gap on Wayah road 5.9 miles further north. This allowed me to hike 9 miles today, starting at Wayah Gap (could not go further north because of road conditions) and hiking south back to Winding Stair Gap and then continuing on to Wallace Gap where I came off Monday. So it was set. I got up early and packed everything I would need to safely make this section in very cold weather. Based on the temperature in town we figured it was between 10 degrees and 15 degrees at the drop off point this morning. We left around 9:00 for the trip to Wayah Gap, slowed by school busses that were still out since school was delayed 2 hours due to the weather. We stopped at a nondescript spot in the road where the trail went north to climb Wayah Bald and south for the climb to Siler Bald and beyond to Winding Stair and Wallace Gaps. The shuttle drove off and I went south alone while the others went north. We were in a very deep, narrow place on the road where the trail climbs almost straight up on both sides, both directions. It was very cold and the trail was drifted with new snow but not deep in most places. This felt good since my pack was a little lighter. I did not bring my tent, stove or water filter. Just brought what I would need for the day's needs and safety if something happened. This pack weight would be so great everyday! I had about a 900' climb to top the ridge. The north side of the hill was cold and stark and the south side was brighter - both sides having a cold raw wind. My next section north will be to the top of Wayah Bald, so I took pictures of this huge climb from my position on the opposite mountain once I had gotten similarly high up on the south side on the way up to Siler Bald - Wayah will be a challenge once I head north again from here. I felt strong and made good steady progress. The cold became a non-issue once I hit my stride. The woods were beautiful. There were many views off to the massive snow-covered mountains in all directions. There were many streams. The snow was alternately deep and drifted or packed down and powdery, cold and crunchy. There were no recent footprints for several miles until I began to meet hikers who spent the night at Siler Bald shelter, coming my direction. After I passed the turnoff to that shelter, no footprints again. In this section the only footprints were made by what looked like a very large cat coming thru very recently. Just me following the cat. It would leave the trail for a few feet and then get back on and hike along. I began to create stories in my mind about "hiker meets cat" situations. The kicker came later when I looked ahead and saw a small trail sign (fairly common to note landmarks and locations along the way) and as I approached the sign it said PANTHER GAP. Great! Me and the cat and the cat is a hungry panther who hasn't eaten since before this snowstorm! I had a good laugh over that and how your mind works. Funny though, Marlene says I'm deaf (or selectively deaf and with my hat on, my hood up and the wind blowing, and the trees snapping loud cracks with the cold, I started to look around since I realized I would not hear anyone (anything!!) coming up behind me. Fun, cheap entertainment for this lone hiker. I moved on to Swinging Lick Gap, Moore Creek and various other springs and streams, finally coming to the picturesque waterfall and footbridge at Winding Stair Gap - first part of the hike completed. From the bridge I dropped down to a major road crossing and then back up a high climb to a summit that seems to have no name. I saw 3 or 4 very beautiful overlooks once I got to the highest point and decided to name the mountain and those view points Marlene's Mountain. So now this area has a name - update your maps and guidebooks. Stopped to eat a quick lunch at a place where you could see far out into the mountain ranges, but was particularly beautiful if you looked straight down. The mountain side went directly down from my feet a very long way and with the gentlest curve outward to form a hugh cereal bowl looking cove very hidden from the rest of the world. When the trees have leaves this would be a very secluded and remote place down there where you could be and no one would know you were there at all. It was beautiful from there, just a perfect walk. As I began the steep descent down to Wallace Gap I entered an area that had forest fires in 2016. There had been recent trail maintenence in this area. The recent work had made a bare dirt treadway on the steep mountainside and where the trail had a southern exposure the dirt was slick, greasy mud. I slipped along down a very steep descent for about 3/4 mile but did not fall. I made it to Wallace Gap 5 minutes after the shuttle pulled into the gap. So I knocked out a quick 9 miles of progress and had a beautiful walk in cold but beautiful conditions. All the hikers were scrambling to make progress but also be safe with the cold temps and snow conditions, so I feel good about how it has gone. I will finish town chores tomorrow and head north on Friday. A little over 115 miles completed and very happy with how this part has turned out. I sent Marlene a few pictures and a video from today and we traded text messages. A good day. Goodnight Sweetheart.