Date: 2010-04-24
From: Deep gap

To: Greasy creek friendly
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: overcast clouds

4/24Deep gap campsite to greasy creek friendly hostel12.2 miles plus .6 unofficial to hostelThe morning started out grey and spitting rain but quickly turned gorgeous with blue skies and a light breeze. I headed up Unaka with a light heart. The way up was significantly less pretty than in 2001.  None of the trees had leaves yet and it all looked dead. Mountain Man said he thought it looked like the haunted forest. The top, one of my favorite spots on the previous trip, didn't grab me the same way this time. Maybe it was the storm damage. Maybe it was that last time I had early stage hypothermia and probably an altered state of mind as a result. Either way, it felt very different. On the way down I ran into Carl and Carrie and got a weather report. Rain starting at 4 pm, severe weather starting at 1 am. That was good news. It meant we would be at the hostel before the bad weather arrived.After lunch in a shelter, I headed out again.  I was distraught when I realized my head net was gone. However Mountain Man soon caught up with me- he'd found it where it had fallen. Relief!All day I heard rumors about trail magic at Iron Mountain Gap, but as it was 8 miles from our start I assumed they would be gone by the time I got there. I was so glad to be wrong! Denali, Gorgonzola, and Chatter, 2009 thruhikers and friends of Islack, put on an amazing spread. Beercan chicken, corn on the cob, baked and green beans, beer, wine, soda, and much more. And chairs and advice. It was pretty much the best trail magic any of us had ever seen.  We walked away full, grateful, and happy. I headed away from the trail magic full of energy from the two glasses of coke, and slightly muzzy from a glass of wine. It was a good combo. I floated up the hills.  Everything seemed especially nice. I recognized a couple pretty spots from 2001 and wanted to take pictures but couldn't risk the electronics as rain started falling. I finally put my raingear, handy since morning, to use. It was pretty warm out so I was quite comfortable. The wind picked up a lot. Since I felt good, it was exhilarating rather than scary. I felt two conflicting impulses. My weather sense said to run for cover. My thruhiker brain said to stop and look and enjoy, since shelter was still hours away. So that's what I did.I walked for a while and eventually my companions caught up. They decided to slow down and walk with me since they were pretty full. Together we finished the day's hike and then proceeded off the trail to the closest hostel. We all bitched about how the distance to a hostel always seems farther than advertised. We were greeted with a friendly smile and a lot of instructions. Connie welcomes people into her home but has a lot of rules to follow. Hand washing is the first. She's a stickler for cleanliness. For the average thruhiker who feels they've gone above and beyond if they wash their dishes with soap, it's quite a change. But it's shelter in a storm and we were happy to be there. We hope the storm blows through tonight. If the weather tomorrow is very bad I'm not sure what our plan is. I'm pretty sure it involves walking though.