Date: 2005-03-15
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: NOC
Miles today: 5.6
Weather: overcast clouds

Down with agendas!It was a chilly night at Wesser Bald Shelter last night, but once we warmed up we stayed warm.  The water bladders did freeze to a slight slush, but were far from frozen solid.  The weather that I thought would move over us during the night didn't and it stayed dry.Long, long 5.6 down to NOC this morning.  No doubt, this is a tough section.  Both Tom and I swore up and down that they snuck in an extra mile somewhere.  The feet were doing much better today, despite the treacherous descent.  So much better in fact, that we practically ran down the last .5 to NOC.  Some say mind over matter is a pwerful thing, but I am convinced that stomach over matter is far more powerful.  That Hiker Hunger is a force to be reckoned with!We made it down to River's End Restaurant around 10:30, and had a lovely breakfast.  As we were finishing up, Tom noticed two familiar hikers out the window:  The Wonder Twins!  We thought they were ahead of us, but we'd been conjecturing that perhaps they'd zeroed in Franklin after their 20 mile slack pack on Saturday.  I guess we guessed right, and we were happy to see Rocky, Cat Toy and SciFi.They were planning to hike on to Sassafras Shelter 7 mi up the trail, but upon seeing us they were tempted to stay the night at the NOC.  We were talking about getting a cabin and sharing it between the 5 of us, which is MUCH nicer than the bunk house.  Tom and I had already checked in to the bunk house, but the staff guy said we could switch to the cabin if the kids decided to stay.  So we discussed the options with the Gang.  Cat Toy was extremely conflicted, and I swear I have *never* seen waffling like this before.  Finally, after MUCH deliberation and going back and forth, Cat Toy and Rocky paper-rock-scissored to decide what to do.  Rock won, and off to the shelter they went.  That wasn't exactly my ideal way of spending the afternoon, but all was not lost.  Although the Gang decided to hike on, a turn of events involving a faulty furnace facilitated a night in a cabin anyway.  We were able to finish our laundry, shower in a clean private shower, and spend a night in a clean private room with fresh bed linens.  No plastic sheet covered bunks for these hikers tonight!!  The cabin is just beautiful too:  6 bedroom, 3 bath with full kitchen, great room and deck.  All this for what we paid to stay in the moldy bunk house.  SCORE!We've been hearing word of sour weather that is supposed to blow in tonight.  Freezing temperatures, rain mixed with snow.  So far, at 7:45 pm it seems clear and quiet above.  We'll see though.  Fortunately, we have a very relaxed plan to get to Fontana over the next three days.  Just 8 miles or so tomorrow up the first 3000 ft beast climb to either Sassafrass Shelter ot camp atop Cheoah Bald, depending on the weather.  Another shorter day to Brown Fork.  Then about 12 mi to Fontana on day 3.  The two shorter days are supposed to be the crummier weather.  The climb out of NOC is probably the toughest climb south of the Mason-Dixon line, so I am very happy to have that on a short day, even if the weather is lousy.I have some anxiety about the Smokies, coming up after Fontana.  There is still quite a bit of snow up there, and weather prognosis for the weekend is not good.  Fortunately we will be getting to Fontana before entering the Smokies, and T and I agreed that we wouldn't go out if the weather is crummy.  If we need to wait a day or so for things to clear up, we will.  That does put me more at ease.  At least I know that we won't go out into bad weater.For tonight though, I am happy to be warm and dry, here with Tom, and feeling pretty good about everything.  The Gang is spread out right now with SciFi and the Wonder Twins ahead, us in the middle, and Stick, Spoony, Humptey and F.T. behind us.  We will probably all converge in Fontana, and we're planning a big celebration in Gatlinburg for Spoonie and FT's birthdays, and to welcome Spring...Danger