Date: 2015-04-10
From: Winding Stair Gap, NC

To: ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂold Spring Shelter, NC
Miles today: 15.8
Weather: moderate rain

After another restless night in the Budget Inn. It might have been due to the fact that only a foot of wall protected me from any vehicle crashing through the window, giving me a front row seat to my own demise, since the hotel sat right off a downhill curve and Rock Boat and I drew the short stick with the room next to the road. That, or perhaps another reason I won't mention outside of my immediate trail companions.The morning began with a shuttle service provided by the First Baptist Church of Franklin, NC that provided a ride to their church, a few blocks from our hotel. Once there we were greeted warmly by members of the congregation and offered endless amounts of pancakes, bacon, OJ, and coffee. They do it each year during the month of highest activity with a goal of not only feeding as many hungry hikers as possible, but providing support and an invitation to Christ to any hiker open His love. Luckily we made it on the next-to-last day of this season. We all signed an AT Class of 2015 banner, enjoyed good convo, and were supplied a piece of paper and a picture (taken by the staff) so that we could write a letter home (or to whoever) as well as show them proof of our well-being. Mom, watch the mail. The group this morning consisted of Rock Boat, Moosehead, General Burnsides, Jeopardy, the entire Hiker Family crew, and several others I hadn't met before. They made us feel special simply for doing nothing more than showing up with an appetite. Thank you to your church and I'll for sure send you a picture from the finish line.After returning to the hotel, we packed our bags as we waited for our shuttle back into the mountains. The weather radar showed approaching storms and as the clouds darkened outside and rain began falling, spending the day hiking seemed like a bad idea. After being dropped off at Winding Stair Gap just before 10am, our crew set off in the rain with heavy packs from yesterday's resupply. The rain would fall steadily for the first hour, but would ultimately fizzle out and not reach more than a drizzle for the remainder of the day. Again, the trail spirits were watching over us. Our original plan was to hit shelters at 5 miles in, 10 miles in, etc. and reassess at each depending on the weather. General Burnsides was soon off to his blistering pace and would only be seen on occasional breaks throughout the day. With a heavy pack, I decided to hike at my own leisurely pace for the day. For the first couple of hours I walked alone and enjoyed it. Walking along certain ridges just above rain and fog line is a beautiful thing. Listening to the wind roll up and over the mountains, sounding very similar to fast-approaching rain, left me closing my eyes each time wondering if this was the one that would actually be the rain. Luckily it never happened and the miles were there for the taking, even if at a slower pace in damp conditions.I would eventually hook up with Moosehead and we would spend most of the day exchanging stories, stupid comments, and good laughs. I've enjoyed getting to know more and more about different members of my local hiking group, and Moosehead is no exception. Whether it's learning that he enjoys Latin, has good taste in books and music, is from Maine but has spent his most recent times in Houston, TX, now enjoys arts like poetry and writing despite growing up favoring the sciences, it all makes someone unique. Learning a little about why he has decided to go for the AT was also nice since our reasons are fairly similar.We would catch up with General Burnsides during one point early in the hike at Snowbird Bald. Looking up the clear bald the rose at least 100 vertical feet above us as fog whipped across was too good to pass up. We quickly dropped our packs and ran up a small trail that led to the top. We knew there wouldn't be a view due to dense fog, but simply doing something to say you did it was enough. We stood at the top for a few minutes, snapped a photo together, and made our way back down as the passing fog left us feeling like Civil War soldiers passing through the smoke of a nearby battle.We passed through places named Swinging Lick Gap, Panther Gap, and Silver Bald. Moosehead found particular humor in the fact that a previous hiker had carved and changed a letter in the name of the first gap. In truth, I'm sure most male hikers do as well.We eventually stumbled onto Wayah Bald, topping out at 5,342ft. An old brick fire tower (somewhat similar to a castle tower) sits atop the summit and offers views of 4 states on a clear day. We weren't able to see anything past ~100ft due to fog, but we were able to enjoy something better - more trail magic. A man, Courtesy, and his 2 children, set up shop inside the base of the tower complete with hot dogs, bananas, apples, oranges, chocolate, snacks, coffee, tea, and a variety of juices. It wasn't a particularly cold day, but definitely cool enough to enjoy a warm lunch as well as sit around a grill used as a heater. We spent just under an hour talking with our kind hosts and among each other. Burnsides and I climbed up one of the stone sidings of the tower, perhaps ~15ft high. Not particularly dangerous, but a fall plenty capable of ending a thru-hike. Put young guys together for enough time and some form of masculinity-proving challenges will arise - if attempting to thru-hike the AT isn't already enough. *A shout out to all female hikers - y'all rock. You continue to kick ass and impress every day.*Today's standout would be a new girl who I'm sure I won't know long due to her low weight and high speed - Tick Tock. I didn't get to know her much other than having her pass me a couple of times throughout the day, as well as completing her PCT thru-hike last year. She'll be a triple-crowner in no time, I'm sure. She's currently camped with us tonight and was a good addition to our group, if only for a day, a few days, etc.Rock Boat would eventually catch up with Moosehead and I and we would all practically limp into Cold Spring Shelter around ~6pm. Moosehead and I are currently suffering through chaffing in the greater nether regions area which, after stopping to apply both Gold Bond and vaseline, left us just shy of walking with our legs spread apart the last few miles. Rock Boat, on the other hand, suffered with muscle pains in both legs and had trouble simply reaching and wandering about camp. If things don't improve with a night's rest, his goal is to make it to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC for short) tomorrow - currently ~12 miles away. Depending how his body responds, he may need to rest and recoop there. If so, I will be continuing on without him. I hope for the sake of his thru-hike that rest will be all he needs to continue on. The trail is a better place with people like him on it.Not feeling as though I put forth much effort today, other than hiking 15.8 miles, I decided not to cook dinner tonight. Instead I snacked on 4 pop tarts and a moon pie - something I haven't had since I was a kid in MS. Seeing that we strolled into camp late this evening, my limited time was spent hanging with Moosehead, General Burnsides, Jeopardy, and Tick Tock - talking, watching them consume food, and even massaging Moosehead's back for him due to a tight spot caused by his pack straps. I was rewarded with a Snickers bar for my troubles.Before retiring to our tents we stood on a clearing just down the ridge from our campsite that offers an awesome view of a valley and towering mountains behind. If the morning is a good one, the entire camp plans to meet and watch what could be an amazing sunrise before making our long descents into the NOC tomorrow.For now my goal tomorrow will be to reach the NOC, enjoy a burger and drink, and reassess my plans then. It's currently nearing 11pm as I finish this journal, hiker's midnight officially 2 hours ago - the sounds of a light wind, Jeopardy tossing in his tent, and Moosehead snoring fill the air. I wouldn't have it any other way - except the snoring, perhaps. For now, I leave you with a story from a little piece of paper I kept from the church breakfast this morning. You may interpret it to fit your lives, but it especially relates with thru-hikers:"As I looked down into the valley from the peak of Turk Mountain, I prayed to God. Not a prayer of praise or thanksgiving for the view before me, but a prayer of questions about what I could not view. Why could I not see my prayers being answered? As I prayed, I felt the Spirit of the Lord guide my gaze to the valley below and a question formed within me; " What do you see?" "From here everything," I answered. Another question came, "And if you were in the valley what would you see?" "Only what was within my immediate area," was my answer. Then in my heart appeared a truth as beautiful as the mountainous view that was before my eyes. I could not see God's answers to my prayers because I was trying to view His handiwork from the valley of human understanding. If it were possible for me to stand on the mountain of God's infinite knowledge and wisdom then I could see clearly that God was hearing my prayers and busy working out the answers. As I thought about this, I realized that it was possible to stand on such a mountain. That mountain is faith in God and His word. Faith in that God does what he says. As I climbed down Turk Mountain that day, I climbed up the Mountain of God. A mountain built on faith in the promises of God. A mountain from which I have a view more beautiful than from any earthly mountain."