Date: 2010-02-19
From: Wallace Gap

To: Wayah Gap, NC
Miles today: 9.0

"In North Dakota, we have 2 seasons: shovel and swat."                                    - my brother, EricThe forecast for today was sunny and much warmer. I decided it was time for a mental health day. I needed a day of hiking that was "easy" and without feeling that survival depended on my actions, knowing that a hot shower, dinner and a soft bed awaited my return.So I arranged for a shuttle out to Wayah Gap. Fahmah, who had made it out the wilderness yesterday, decided to join me. With a much lighter pack and a feeling of freedom I set out to enjoy the day.Our shuttler, Ronny, drove us right up to the gap. Snowbanks lined the road, but the road itself was clear. Fahmah and I piled out of the truck and began our south-bound hike.Even though the day was lovely, the hike up Siler Bald was a lot of work. Drifts were piled up across the trail, so the walking was more difficult than just walking uphill.Siler Bald itself was heavily drifted and would have required "swimming" up to the top. As a result, even having heard rave reviews of the views from above, I decided to skip the final climb, instead sticking just to the AT.The descent of Siler was much easier as the snow wasn't as deep, and the sun was melting what snow there was.Fahmah suddenly called out that he had seen a bug. I teased him and asked just what it was that he'd been drinking from his water bottle. But, sure enough, a while later he pointed out an insect to me. I'm not sure what it was, but it was the size of a large mosquito with large wings.So even with lots of snow on the trail, we still had insects. Does that mean that this part of the South has only one season - Shovel-and-Swat - both at the same time? At least in North Dakota, it's two separate seasons!On the descent to Winding Stair Gap we met a dayhiker, a woman from Ohio who now calls the mountains around Franklin home.Small waterfalls flowed with water, new snowmelt, as the sun beat down. The rhododenron leaves uncurled and flattened out in the warming temperatures. Ahhh. Such a sense of relief to be walking along enjoying the day in the sunshine, instead of rushing along, monitoring myself for signs of hypothermia, worrying about making it to the next shelter, and huddling inward against the icy blasts of the wind.We dropped into Winding Stair Gap, crossed the road, and started up the other side. Up and up we wound until we reached the high point and started back down. We rounded a corner, and what was this? The white stuff on the ground ran out and beyond it was something that seemed vaguely familiar. It was brown and had old, dead leaves covering it. Roots and rocks were visible. Could it be? Yes, joy of joys! A bit of trail with no snow or ice on it. It wasn't a long stretch, but it showed that we should hold onto our hopes and dreams. Spring *will* come again. (Probably to be followed in 3 days by steaming hot summer.)A phone call to the motel brought Ron Haven out to Wallace Gap to pick us up and return us to the motel. Despite the warm temperatures of the day, I was feeling chilled, so I ended up staying in for the night, repacking for my anticipated departure on the morrow.NOC, here I come!