Date: 2006-04-02
From: Franklin/Winding Stair Gap

To: Campsite north of Wayah Bald
Miles today: 10.5

Well, it's been awhile since I posted and a few weeks since my hike from Winding Stair to the NOC. The hike was great and we did it in two days. The night of April 1st we got into the Sapphire Inn for Ron Haven's Hiker Fool Bash. I must say it was an awesome time for all. Some great hiker trash were present from Mala, Pirate, Lone Wolf, and Baltimore Jack. Miss Janet even showed up with Gargamel. My buddy, Phil, and I had a great time chowing down on burgers and Pork Chops with Apple Chutney as we sat around conversated and threw down some cold ones. Soon enough the fun ended and it was time to turn in for the evening. What follows below is directly from my journal.Got up around 8am and was out in the parking lot by 8:30 for a great breakfast of home fries, sausage, bacon, and biscuits n' gravy. It was getting warm pretty early and the day was looking like it was gonna be a sunny day in the eighties. Shuttle was supposed to leave about 9am, but Ron had been running himself ragged at we were still waiting around 9:30 for him to show when Lone Wolf sidled up and conspiratorily told us to throw our packs in his truck and he would take us up to Winding Stair gap...and the vultures started circling looking to yogi a ride, but there was no room so we were off. Sorry guys but us sectioners have a schedule to keep, you got six months, who gives a krap if you start an hour late. Anyways, we were at the gap and started hiking around 11am with the temps around 80. We started climbing pretty early but it wasn't bad at all. We made fairly good time to Siler Bald and the clouds began to move in. It always seems to work this way, sit down for your first break...and lunch, and wouldn't you know it the rain starts to fall on us, so we got moving to keep warm as the temps started dropping and hiked on. We had an older couple pass us and never saw them again, and an older gent by the name of Atom, not the fastest hiker but he was constant. Anyways, we kept on as the rain kept chasing us and finally came down towards Wayah Gap to find a group of college kids on a mission trip doing trail magic in the down pour but it was just what the doctor ordered as the water and fresh fruit was just what we needed. We were pretty wet by now as we crossed the gap and began to make the long climb up to Wayah Bald. On our way up we were passed by some young thru hikers(no trail names) and after them by Jericho, a barber from Ohio, who was very fervent in his religion but was a very nice guy. I'm not one to talk much about my religion, but he was a great guy. Phil was beginning to drag at this point as we flirted with the road up to Wayah Bald as we climbed. By this time Phil was hiking in his Tevas as his shoes had started to cause blisters but he was loving it I think as much as I was. At Winespring we ran into several other hikers and took a pack off break before continuing up to Wayah Bald and the observation tower. Oh yeah, almost forgot the sun finally came out around Winespring just in time to dry us out! Anyways, the views were great from the tower as we arrived to find the three young hikers and Jericho already at the tower. Phil stopped behind me at the parking lot as he was running on fumes but I climbed up for the requisite pictures. God, I look chubby in pictures, isn't it true the camera adds like twenty pounds?!? Anyways, after spending about twenty minutes on the bald, Jericho and I headed down to the campsite ahead of eveyone else. Now we were also keeping an eye out for the water source and saw one about a quarter mile before the campsite but kept going and found Atom already set up under a big rhododhendron tree, however it was a pretty big area and we set up in a nice spot near a fire ring. Phil and a fella by the name of Seattle showed up a short while later as we were setting up our tents. I think Phil was on the verge of heat exhaustion as he set up his tent and laid down for a bit as I went off to get us water. I finally returned and Phil started building a fire as I made dinner, meanwhile the young hikers showed up and started setting up. After eating dinner Phil continued to work on his fire as Jericho and I went over to chat with the young'uns who weren't being particularly smart. One gal had her tent set up, but the other didn't feel like it and had her sleeping bag on mat out in the open. The guy who was with them had a hammock...but no tarp over it! I'm not one to usually tell others how to do things but knowing NC and it's ability to dump rain with no warning Jericho and I both asked the one young lady what she was gonna do if it rained and she replied she would climb into the other gal's tent. Anyways, we chatted a little and then headed back to our area to sit around the fire for a little. As it got dark we could see clouds rolling in and lightning lighting up the sky to the north as we wondered if we were gonna get hit. Finally hiker midnight rolled around and we decided to turn in for the night. I'm laying here in my tent right now and I'm feeling like were gonna see a storm tonight as the wind is picking up outside. It was a good day, I'm not really hurting and I think tomorrow should be a big day, we might even be able to hit the NOC...and real food! Yes, pathetic I know. One day out and my fat ass is already thinking of real food. What can I say I didn't get big by not eating well! G'night all!