Date: 2013-04-05
From: NOC

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 13.8
Weather: broken clouds

When you reach the top, keep climbing.   Zen proverb   After resting and repacking, we got an early start out of NOC. Most of the herd opted for a breakfast at the restaurant. I like to get going early, as I'm a morning person and have my best thinking and energy at the start of each day. I had granola and instant milk with me that I wanted to use anyway, so that was brekky, along with a peanut butter tortilla. Capt. Dan decided to hike out early too, so we were back to the trail just after 8 a.m. We would pay for this decision, hahaha.   The trail from NOC is a climb. For about seven miles. It was gradual at first, nice switchbacks with views back to the NOC with clouds all around.The forecast was for sun and nice temperatures, so I had on two of four layers, no gloves. As we got higher, the clouds didn't lift, we just hiked into them. Views gone, temps dropped, what is this---a little drizzle? C'mon sun!! But it was not to be, not yet. We stopped for water and continued through a slippery boulder field. Capt. Dan has a longer stride than I do (for every ten of his steps, I take 12 or more), so I knew he'd be ahead somewhere but I couldn't keep him in sight. I had to focus on climbing, pushing up and up and up. It never seemed to end.    I'd added another layer and gloves at the water stop, but was now getting wet from the drizzle. Was it really going to RAIN on me? I was on a very steep portion of the trail, but realized that I needed to put my rain jacket on or risk getting really soaked if it didn't let up. My layers were already sweat soaked from climbing, but there was no end in sight. I couldn't see much looking up because I was totally enveloped in the cloud now.   So, stop to don my rain jacket. Ugh. Cold fingers, wet gloves, hood up, head down. I could not get going easily when I began again. I really dislike stopping as I just lose all rhythm and momentum. It was so hard to get my legs moving again, just truding up to the top of a mountain that was still miles away. Decided to stop again to put my music on. Good decision.    I'd climbed into an ice forest. There was ice on every tree limb, and mist everywhere. Couldn't see anything but the trail and it was entirely covered with ice pellets that were raining down from the trees. There were blown down limbs everywhere, and ice pieces were beaning me. I just put my hands up and head down, getting hit from all sides. I love this trail, right??   Finally, I reached Cheoah Bald, the top of this huge climb. I'm sure there was a view somewhere, but not for me. Head down, keep going. Where is the sun? At least the down now provided some relief for my legs. Some hikers hate the downs, as it's hard to use your muscles to brake yourself and punishing on the knees. I don't mind as my knees have been good so far. But it was steep and slippery and I had to be very careful, again, with every stop.    Finally, a little sun peeked through and the temps rose as I descended to Stecoah Gap. I passed a bunch of hikers going up and had a long hike down but was enjoying the warmth. I arrived at the Gap to find a couple of picnic tables piled high with trail magic. A local man often drops off snacks, drinks and water there for hikers passing through. Capt. Dan had arrived about 10 minutes earlier and there were other hikers and some boy scouts who we had seen at several spots over the last few days. I took off my wet layers, put on my puffy jacket and ate lunch. So happy to be there, and the sun was glorious.    The food part of hiking is a revelation for me. In my normal, non-trail life, I'm a pretty healthy eater. As a cancer survivor, I try to avoid junk foods, sugary drinks, processed stuff and a lot of red meat. Out here, it's a different story. After eating cheese, tuna and tortillas at the Gap, I surveyed the trail magic. BBQ potato chips? Yep, lets open that. Could've had Doritoes or Sun Chips. We pretty much demolished that bag. Little Debbie oatmal pie? Pass that over. Nutty Bars? Please and thank you.    We had a decision to make for the next days. Capt. Dan's buddy was coming from FL on Sunday, to hike the Smokies with us. We were a day ahead of him, and another hiker friend, Don's Brother, had already arranged for a little cabin right near Stecoah Gap. He had room for the three of us, so off we went to the Cabin in the Woods. Jolly and CDan constantly experience sore knees, and they were happy to rest them, so we decided to stay on there for a zero.   It's all good!!Tie Dye