Date: 2016-04-26
From: cold spring shelter

To: nantahala outdoor center
Miles today: 12.0

Day 15- April 26, 2016Today we set out at 7:15am. It was a humid morning that left our tent drenched but the temperature was nice to hike in. We expected about a 12 mile day, mostly down hill, to the NOC. For some reason, I started out tired and never really picked up my energy level which made the hike tough for me. At one point while going up, I decided I needed some food. I got a pop tart out and started eating it . I was sort of down cause I was so tired and Dregs began to get goofy to make me smile. As I laughed at him, my face full of pop tart, crumbs poofed out of my mouth in dry puffs of air. He attempted to vacuum the crumbs off my face and made me laugh more. He really cheered me up for a bit and we continued on. We got to a vista off a side trail called rocky bald and though it was up a steep boulder that I didn't want to climb, Dregs convinced me to go up it. We saw Diatom there eating breakfast and we continued up to the top. It was a great view and was worth the extra effort. Diatom ended up passing us on the trail... Multiple times, but we saw him again at the top of a viewing tower on Wesser Bald. The last fire tower we came across, I was too scared to go up but this time, Dregs convinced me to face my fears. As I climbed up the stairs of the rickety old metal and wood tower, I could see how high I was going. The stairs were just boards that you could see under which was terrifying. I made it to the top and sat down in the middle of the platform. Both of the guys were happy I made it up and it felt like an accomplishment for me and my fear of heights. The view was awesome. We had a 360degree view of all of the surrounding mountains. While up there and feeling wild, I spotted a medium size rock that someone had brought up. I asked the guys if I could drop it off the tower. They said go for it, but I was scared and hesitant to. I didn't want to hurt anyone if someone were to be down there. There was no one around and we could clearly see that. I got the courage and announced to the non existent people that I was going to drop a rock so watch out. I dropped the rock off the tower and it cracked and the main part of it landed directly on the wall of a rocky for epic as if it belonged there. A perfect landing. The three of us hung out up there for a bit before setting off again. The rest of the trail was down hill and hard on our knees. We made it into NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center) around 1:15 and checked into our hotel. The place is much nicer than the budget inn... We got some pulled pork sandwiches for lunch with Captain Planet and jack rabbit, then went over to the outfitter to pick up my new hip belt for my pack. When I ordered my pack from REI, I got the woman's small pack that I wanted but with a men's trim shoulder straps and a men's medium hip belt. Not exactly right... But it fit great until I couldn't tighten the hip belt tight enough to take the weight off my shoulders. So Dregs ordered me a men's small hip belt for a better fit. After, we saw Squarepeg and had some drinks with him and the other guys. We had a good time and I almost got a trail name. Still not sure about the name. Storm. Like from X men. Cause apparently I'm feisty and strong... Like I said, not sure of it. Anyhow, we were able to get showers and laundry done and now we feel great. Tomorrow we go up a mountain. All day. Woo hoo