Date: 2008-03-08
From: Nantahala Outdoor Ctr

To: Nantahala Outdoor Ctr
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light snow

I WILL NOT GET LOST!!!So I am up and ready to go (after breakfast) and get back on the Trail around 9. Lee told me earlier he was ready to go at 9, which was too late for him. He must have left around 7. After talking with Susan and cousin Marilyn, I got on the Trail around 10. Even though it was cold (30), windy (20 - 30 mph) and snowy (2-4 inches), I was not overly concerned. I had appropriate clothing, food, shelter (tent), and a pretty smart approach to the hike. For instance, when I found my self "fighting" the terrain (1300' climb), I would slow down, practice my breathing and continue on. Of course anybody that knows me, is well acquainted with my lack of direction. But hey,no big deal, the Trail is well marked with blazes (4x6 rectangles painted on trees every so often), plus the next shelter was just under 7 miles. So off goes Willie Boy, hiker from Chicago. I get to a double blaze indicating a left turn; I'm a guy with an IQ over 80, I can manage that. I make my left turn and look for a blaze, which there is no sign of; actually there were many blazes if you counted the snow cover on the trees, but they were definitley more the 4x6 inches. Due to the snow cover there was not a clearly marked trail. What may have been a trail, was covered up by blown down trees; not brush, but trees. So after about 15' of looking around, the words of my personal coach (Tryler Schultz) come to mind "Hike YOUR hike, it is marathon not a sprint" as well as the request from my sons, Vince and Alex "Be careful". So I decied to remain clam, and note clearly where I am. Then I change out of my wet and sweaty shirt, and pull out my topo map. Somebody with my orienteering skills would be better served by using that map as fire starter. The other words that came to mind in this kind of situation is to "Remain Calm". Again folks that I have worked with know when faced with a problem I tend to take a "charge full steam ahead" approach. I knew where I had been, just wasn't sure where to go from here. I knew I WOULD NOT GET LOST"; so I gave my self a deadline of 1 1/2 hours to resolve this. Fortunately I had cell phone coverage, which let me call the NOC, then the Park Servcie, then the club responsible for this section of the Trail. No body was able to help me with which direction to go. I swept the area in front of me about 60 yds and to the right about 100 yds. I knew the blaxe was somewhere, and kept looking to avoid the 3.5 mile hike back. It actually got me laughing at my predicament. All this information, equipment, maps, GPS and not way to control Mother Nature. The weather was getting a bit worse and if I moved forward I stood a chance of getting lost, which was not going to happen.So a U-turn was called for; I turned around and headed back to the NOC. My biggest concerns at that point was whether the restaurant was opened. When I got back to the NOC, I met Jake, another your hiker and joinedhim for dinner. WE both got a laugh out of my situation.I was happy I followed proper procedure..Stay dry, stay calm, and don't get lost. That meant I cold go hiking again tomorrow.There was a small bit of frustration in that I couldn't count my 7+ miles hiked, but I did get a hot resaturant meal.It's all good stuff!