Date: 2004-04-06
From: Unnamed Campsite in woods

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

I looked over my feet in the tent and could see the sun rising over the mountains. Such a great view but it meant I needed to climb out of the sleeping bag get packed and begin another day of hiking. I was up about 7 am and hiking by 8 am. Keith had started out before me and he was really moving. I never caught up with him that day. I think he was in a hurry to get to NOC. His feet had been hurting but he must have been feeling a lot better. Eric and I stopped for lunch at the Tellico Gap where there is a power line and a parking area by the road. There were two fathers and their three sons there having lunch also. It was about 80 degrees and sunny. After a light lunch we hiked up Wesser Bald where there is a firetower. We climbed the firetower and the fathers and their sons were up there also. Once again fantastic views of the whole area. We were now at 4630 ft elevation. I hiked on to Wesser Bald Shelter, 4115 ft and got there about 3 PM. It was still warm and Eric and I chatted a little and the gnats were eating me up. I set up my tent and for the second night set up the net tent inside it. This had not been too successful the first time I tried it but it worked pretty well this time. I quickly cooked some Liptons Rice and Pasta supper and about 5:30 I climbed into the tent. It was well before sundown. The two fathers and three sons were planning on sleeping in the shelter. Well, for the next two hours folks kept coming into the camping area and fixing supper and pitching tents. There were a lot of folks there that night. After dark, two girls came in. Chatted with the guys some then went to the shelter to spend the night. I slept through some of the talk. They were helping each other prepare supper. These were like high school guys or maybe early college. There was a beautiful sunset that night that I could see from my sleeping bag. It is hard to find a flat spot for your tent so I was sliding down the hill much of the night. Having to wake up and pull myself back up into position and try to go to sleep again. This is quite common. I have discovered that I thought this trip would be a lot of camping. It is not. It is about hiking. You wake up in the morning for a quick breakfast and then get packed and start hiking. It is important to get as many miles in before you stop for lunch as possible. Usually if you are climbing up and down mountains, you are doing about 1 mile per hour. If the ground flattens out which it does occasionally you get around 2 miles per hour. You hike until 3 to 5 in the evening, then set up camp and fix supper. Then I hit the sleeping bag getting ready for another day. Water is a big thing also. It is important that you keep a supply of water for drinking and cooking. First thing when reaching a shelter is to see if the water supply is good and is near. Then you check to see if there is a privy. Then look for the flattest place to set up a tent. So that was the end of another good day. I have forgotten to tell you that last night I had fixed some Liptons Rice and Pasta and it cooked just fine. But while eating it I bit into something very hard, a rock or a piece of uncooked rice or something and chipped a tooth.I have talked to my dentist and he says not to worry. Keep hiking. So I will continue.