Date: 2009-04-05
From: Nantahala Outdoor Center

To: Sassafras Gap Shelter
Miles today: 6.9
Weather: scattered clouds

April 5 --Today was a beautiful, warm, 74o, Spring day, the morning of which was spent cleaning - me, clothes, dishes, and pack at the Base Camp of the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The NOC attracts hundreds of vistiors to the river based activites, whitewater rafting, kayaking, dining riverside or hiking in the area, the AT literally goes right through it. The Base Camp is a mens room/laundry/shower and upstairs is a double kitchen, sinks, 'frigs, gas stoves, microwaves, and a huge picnic table dining area that supports groups from near and far who stay at the hostels/cabins nearby. Today I had the run of the place. After, I called Soni, but before that, I mentioned to the cleaning ladies that the pay phone did not work. Linda, from PA originally who moved here because they were tired of shovelling snow, kindly offered me her cell for a quick call, which I did and disappointedly left a message. I went downstairs to tend my laundry and a few minutes later Linda tracked me down and said, "Your daughter's on the phone!" Soni, in NH, was in the shower, and Sarah saw a call from NC and didn't pick up because she didn't know anyone from NC! Anyway, after packing up and a stop at the outfitter for a short sleeved shirt, I visited the General Store where I bought a bag of Fritos which I gobbled down while seated outside before I was to go 10m to tent camp. Then I smelled hambugers from the restaurant across the street and I went over to investigate. A salad, a Wesser burger with swiss and bacon, and 2 0'Douls later, I headed up the mountain at 16:05. It was still warm, hot! About 2m in my right knee, more like my lower inside quad, began complaining, and it became progressively worse. I soon realized that the 10m was out and I would go to the Sassafras Shelter at 6.9m. Weather forecast was 11pm showers into Monday all day, chance Tuesday rain, much colder, drier, warmer Wed/Thursday. Right now, in the tent, it is lightly raining on/off, the wind is sporatic, and there a lot of strange noises out there - squeaking trees and other sound effects. Anyway, my knee bothered me the rest of the way here, but killer up hills to Grassy Gap and Swim Bald, these guys don't believe in switchbacks. The last 2m or so were with headlamp, great invention, and standing at the shelter the response was, "we can squeeze one more up here" after I had asked some kid cooking his pot if there was room, he said, "you'll have to ask them, up there", and that was after I arrived and said hello, to which I got " ", nothing, what a bunch of grouches. I didn't recognize anybody, I jumped a little ahead of my crowd because of the Franklin party, 3 days, and the NOC. My knee could be from the long descent last night or a result of the tumble, rather stumble, yesterday. There, in plain daylight view, was a 12 foot long, 2 inch skinny tree lying across the path which I clearly recognized. It must've jumped up a little, probly, because my left foot failed to clear it and I flew landing hands, then knees, no big deal, I stopped quickly, but my pack didn't, it stopped about 2 seconds later, hanging over my head.