Date: 2004-02-13
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Brown Fork Gap Shelter
Miles today: 16.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Log entry: 13Start time: 1200End time: 1900Morning weather: sunny and pleasantAfternoon weather: sunny and warmEvening weather: clear and coldBreakfast: CIB, orange, oatsLunch: candy barsDinner: Hamburger Helper and potatoes and gravy Trail description: Long, long climbs. Fun section but some long climbsPeople: STANIMAL, the Solemates, folks at NOCWildlife: lots of grouseMoney spent: about $40 (compression sack to pack sleeping bag smaller, fuel, shipped somestuff home, a patch)Complaints: right ankle very soreThoughts: Dad, if you could copy and paste this part to all the journals with no part 10,the 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, and 13th.My original entries for these dates were lost when my Pocketmail took a dump. I have been working hard to keep up with the current days events and will advise you when the narrative portion is completed. Thanks and God Bless.OT Narrative added 2/27/04I was wide awake at 0700 when the solemates got up and advised that they were going to push to Brown Fork Gap shelter, so I got up too and began to get things in order. The gear shop opened at 0900 and I wanted to get a pack cover and maybe a compression sack for my sleeping bag. A compression sack makes the bag smaller so it takes up less space in your bag. I am really glad I picked this up. Very cool. So by 0800 I was in the mess hall preparing my breakfast. I cooked 4 bags of oats and lots of instant breakfast. I figured I would get a late start and I did not want to have to stop for lunch.As I ate I talked with Hippie Long Stalkings and Stumpknocker. Stumpknocker is a southbounder just finishing up. He took some time off to spend with grandchildren. Hippie is going to do a northbound hike this year but started at Fontana and is hiking SB to Springer and then heading to Puerto Rico for a couple weeks and then picking back up again NB from Fontana. They are both such good people and filled us in on the coolest places to stay and where to eat. I did not plan on Standing Bear Farms but Stumpknocker recommended it. It should be noted that Stumpknocker wears size 15 running shoes. His tracks were very easy to recognize as I climbed out of the NOC. In fact, the Solemates and I believe that we saw his tracks in the Smokies a few times in the ice. The tread pattern matched near as we could tell and the size was a 15 ish, but he went through that part of the Smokies around January 4th. But if could have been as the areas were sheltered from sunlight. Anyways¢¦.After breakfast I headed down to the gear shop and purchased the items I wanted and readied a box to be sent home. At about 1000 the mail came and Stanimals stuff was in it. By noon we were out on the trail headed up Grassy Top. I pulled hard up the hill and regretfully lost Stanimal. I waited for a half hour at Sassafras Gap shelter and then left a note of my intentions on the shelter register. My right ankle was not improved but I really wanted to push to the next shelter. So for the most part I put my head down and walked. It was actually more the step-drag method (step with good foot, drag the bad one).I rolled into the shelter at dark only to find it empty. The note from the solemates said that they pushed on and were going to camp in the gap a ways ahead. I was staying put. I made a big dinner and fell fast asleep in my sleeping bag. I was beat. I remember waking up a few times to use the restroom and having a bear of a time walking. I figured it was going to be a long day into Fontana.