Date: 2005-03-29
From: Carter Gap shelter

To: Winding Stair Gap (Franklin, NC)
Miles today: 15.9
Weather: clear sky

It was cold again this morning, so it was difficult to want to get up. Had my first experience with putting on cold, wet pants (not fun). We finally got going with the promise of clear, sunny skies, and the goal of making it to Franklin to resupply and rest. Earnestly hoping that the fingers would thaw once we got moving (the gloves were still soaked). We got on the trail around 8:15 (about 30 minutes after Tomcat) and made good time over rolling terrain. The sun was out and shining in no time and it was finally time to pull out the sunglasses. Around 9:30 we stopped on a little side trail. It was just up a little ways and it was a beautiful view, so we stopped and had a breakfast of frosted mini wheats. Here I had my second epiphany of the trip. We as humans are very self-centered. Frosted mini wheats never has been one of my favorite breakfast cereals (and probably never will be), and had I been at home I would have searched the cabinets for something more tasty or headed out to BK for a bacon, egg, & cheese croissant. However, I was in the woods, and as we sat on top of that beautiful mountain eating breakfast, I was extremely grateful that I had that meal, and that those calories would aid in getting me to my destination. We covered about 4 miles in about 1 hour 45 minutes, and were getting good and warmed up. After Mooney Gap, the terrain began getting a little steeper, drier, and dustier but we kept on trekking. We thought this was Albert mountain we were coming up on, but in fact it was Big Butt mountain. There were breath-taking vistas on the hike across Big Butt and some minor rock-scrambling (enough to make it fun), and we picked up a rock to send home to my nephew to identify. On the trail before Albert mountain, we began to get a nice aroma of campfire and food, and the sounds of laughter and good music. As we approached we saw a sign for "Trail Magic" and knew that we were in for a treat. For a small donation we sat and feasted on bean burritos and chatted with previous hikers Darryl (former owner of Rainbow springs campground), Gatorade, Fishing Fred, and Nightstalker. What a great group of people who are truly out to lift the spirits of weary hikers to keep them going so that they reach their own personal goals.After our trail magic, we continued on up Albert mountain. This section of the trail was rather difficult, but luckily it was a short climb (straight up the mountain) to the top. We took a moment to take in the views from a firetower atop the mountain where we could see for a hundred miles or so.The rest of the day flew by as we (Bug, Priss, Tomcat, and Walt)were racing to get to Winding stair gap before sunset so we could catch a shuttle into Franklin. Bug's knee and foot started hurting a bit, but the thought of real food made the pain seem minor. We could begin to see the road as we crested the top of the last mountain. We began to see & hear cars which meant that we were close to our day's destination. Alas, we were constantly teased as the trail took us within earshot & then further away from the road. Ahhh, what a teasing trail!! Finally, we neared the road and met what we thought was a dayhiker headed off into the woods, but it was actually a former thruhiker (Guided by voices) who drove up from Atlanta to surprise his girlfriend, Courtney, whom we had seen at a couple of shelters. He volunteered to shuttle all of us to The Haven Motel where several other hikers were staying. Got nice hot showers (to the surprise of the other hikers there who'd gotten! cold showers), and then it was off to Prime Sirloin where we had our first AYCE, and we sure did! Off to bed in a warm and cozy room with a real pillow!