Date: 2003-04-22
From: Wayah Bald Campsite

To: Wesser Bald Shelter
Miles today: 11.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Erin Says:BRRR! Very chilly when we awoke this morning. Craig and I woke up earlier today - 8:30am. I left out ahead of Craig and did 5 miles in a coffee-drinking daze. I walked all the way to Cold Spring Shelter with so many thoughts swirling in my mind. I thought about my days at Scripps and people I knew there, my days working at the Motley, thoughts about grad school, thoughts about Bridges... all flying through my head. I don't remember too much about the hike itself I was so internal. I got to the shelter at lunchtime and Craig was only 10 minutes behind me. Fish and friends were there as well as some new hikers. We ate our lunch of crackers, pepperoni, pita, cheese, mustard, mayo, and hotsauce. Yum. Our current GORP mix is pretty great too - we have sesame clusters, little bagel chips, hot stix, mini pretzels, and M&Ms in with our raisins, craisins, and fruit. Also BBQ sunflower seeds and dry roasted peanuts. You have to keep it interesting.Then we hiked the "ouchy" downhill to Tellico Gap. There were gorgeous wildflowers, these pink lillies along the trail. Craig and I were both a tad cranky or testy - sometimes it just happens. And when that happens we tend to take it out on each other. Because really, who else do we have to get cranky with? Sometimes we push each others' buttons, maybe because out here we are all we have. It is sort of reassuring in a way. That we can be in whatever mood we need to be in in order to get by. And we still like each other at the end of the day.At Tellico Gap we met up with Fish and other hikers and took a rest in the gorgeous sun. I then trekked on to Wesser Bald while Craig stayed at the Gap to take a little PM snooze. The sun was finally out after the chilly morning. So chilly this morning that I hiked in my rain pants and wind shirt. The hike up to Wesser Bald was not as hard as Fish had made it out to be. There was a great wooden fire tower/observation deck on top of the Bald with views of the Nantahala River and then farther on Fontana Lake. We could also see the Smokies! I stood on top of the tower and waited for Craig to arrive. I took photos of him coming up the trail from up above. Hope they come out! We are at the Wesser Bald Shelter now. Not too many good camp spots - everything is on a slope! I picked out our tent spot for the first time, Craig says I picked well! We're in a sort of cove/haven. A tiny spot with some roots in unfortunate places, but hey-- it is pretty flat. We had Cha Cha Chile and mashed potatos for dinner! Yeah! However, Craig is now complaining that I shouldn't be allowed to eat Cha Cha Chile or any bean substance and share a tent with him. What can you do? We are snug in our tent, it is cold out tonight again. Patty and the Fat Man just arrived into camp (9:30pm)... we can hear them! It is nice to know that they are here. They end up doing more breaks during the day and hike into the nighttime. I am glad to be warm right now. Tomorrow is a long 6 miles DOWNHILL to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC). There is an outfitter there and real food! We are excited. Oh! I just thought Kareen would love to know that Fish actually complimented me on my snot rocket today at lunch.