Date: 2011-03-31
From: Wesser Bald shelter

To: Nantahala Outdoor Center
Miles today: 5.7
Weather: broken clouds

Up early at 7 AM. Got out of the bag right away and started packing and fixed myself a bacon sammich for breakfast. Mary was on the road by 8:30. I had a little time to talk with Earth before she left and Heartsong wasn't packed yet when I left at 9:20. It was a nice change to have a quiet evening with some easy going folks instead of the usual bustle of the shelter crowd. The trail was very slippery as it had rained a little last night. I almost bit it for good at the Jumpoff. The Jumpoff is a large square rock at an overlook. It drops off about 20 or 30 feet on all sides to the forest below. I really couldn't tell because of the fog. Anyway I was about 10 fet from the edge when I slipped on a root that was buried beneath some pine needles. I spun wildly and tried to grab some balance from the air, but to no avail. I ended up sprawling face down right at the edge of the rock. Another foot or two and it would have been curtains for yours truly. I was pretty rattled and beat a hasty retreat out of there. I should have just calmed down a bit and taken a photo break. The rock looked as though it was a high dive platform into a sea of fog. Pretty cool, but I was pretty badly shaken and not entirely ready to stay there. Shame, it would have made a nice picture. Stopped for a small break at the Rufus Morgan shelter. No shelter journal again! Someone had left 3 bibles but no one is using those to start fires!Got to the NOC around 1:30, got checked in took a shower and did my laundry. I feel like a new man. WOW! The simple things in life!I'm sharing the room in The Tsali bunkhouse with a German fellow who I recognized from the Carter Gap shelter. He had hurt his knee and had been off the trail for the last 6 days. He must have been flying to be here for 6 days already. He says it's a torn Meniscus. He doesn't want to go to the doctor to get checked out...probably because the doctor will most likely tell him that his hike is over. Can't blame him, but if it were me, I'd just face it and take some time to heal.Went to the outfitter and got my drop box. I had forgotten how much stuff I had sent. I probably have enough to get to Steccoah or beyond if I hurry and carry all of it. I won't be doing that of course. There's no real need for the 4 oz. Dr. Bronners. I haven't used much of the original 2 oz. I started with. I sent it thinking I would be doing laundry on the trail like I did in 2007, but with all these town days I haven't needed to yet. I also sent extra powdered milk and a squeeze tube. I'll most likely leave that stuff in the hiker box. I still don't have Sprint service. I'd like to talk with Kelly about where to send the next box and I have to find out where Mom sent the cookies. Had a late lunch at the restaurant. I ordered the Sherpa, a dish of rice, barley and lentils, topped with chili and cheese....it was fantastic and very filling. Had dinner around 7:00 with Mary and Heartsong who are also planning on zeroing tomorrow. Had a Greek salad with Gyro meat....Delicious!After dinner I retired to the community room and wrote a bit and did the crosswords the kids sent in the box. Thanks Guys...you're the best! I also went over the next few days hiking. I'd like to step the pace up a nothch or two. It's a long uphill climb...6.9 and about 3000' to the Sassafras Gap shelter. Why is it that all the long uphills around here end at a Sassafras Gap? From there it's 9.1 to Brown Fork with an exquisite little feature known as Jacob's Ladder at the end of the day. Sound's like fun?!? And then a fairly easy 12.7 to Fontana. I may zero or at least NERO there. I'd like to stay at the Hilton just have that experience...but I'd also like a nice meal, a shower, laundry and do whatever reup I can get from the place. Hopefully there is Sprint service there, otherwise it'll be Gatlinburg before I can call anyone.