Nan's 2014 Appalachian Trail Journal

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April 22, 2014

4/8 Back on the trail after a zero day in Hiawassee. We got off the tail Sunday 4/6 for resupply, shower, and laundry Shuttle picked us up at Dick's Gap at 11:15 for a ride to the Budget Inn. Were really hungry so we went to the first place we saw besides a Subway. It was Zaxby's and boy was it a mistake. Not the right thing to eat after a week of trail food. Lots of rain in the forecast so we decided to stay two nights. The rain was heavy all night and into the morning.

Freckles and I walked down to Georgia Mt. Restaurant for breakfast. Eggs, bacon, home fries, toast, and O.J. It tasted soooo good. On the way back to the Inn we stopped at Ingles a large grocery store. I got a fresh fruit plate from the salad bar and yogurt for lunch. Hit the spot. Bought sheet of plastic used to winterize storm doors to try to use for a ground cloth. Maybe it won't be as slippery as the tarp. Hydro Freckles, and I had dinner at Daniel's. They had the buffet and I had broiled mountain trout and baked potatoes. Very well prepared.

We got the 9:00 shuttle this morning back to the trail. Did 11.8 miles to Muskrat Creek Shelter. Crossed into NC and Southern Nantahala Wilderness. Now we will start climbing to higher elevations Muskrat Creek Shelter is at 4,580 msl and tomorrow we will cross Standing Indian Mtn at 5,498 msl. It is pretty cold tonight-low 40's at 8:00 P.M. It will probably get into the 30's overnight.

T&T are also camping here and they told me that FedEx quit. He was having back problems. He was an older gentlemen form Germany. He said he always had a dream of hiking the AT He is the second person we have been hiking with that quit. Don't know the other man's name but he was also older. He said he just over estimated his ability Said he was going home to feed his cats. Last time I saw him he was walking down the road.

4/9 Made Carter Gap 125 miles. Camp ground and shelter very full. Lots of new faces. "Hendo" and Hendo's mom joined us at the nice fire that Tina (part of T&T) made. She said it was the first campfire she had ever made so we had to keep it fed. It was a very cold night so the fire attracted lots of peope. Hendo was very entertaining. She is back from two war zones and has a blog site set up "Post War Hike". She was airborne but was a large woman. Boy, what a personality. I can't wait to check her blog site out. Hendo's mom was hiking with her soldier in honor of those who can't. Several nights ago we met an 8 year old boy, Sam, who was doing a through hike with his dad. He was carrying a stuffed bison that he called "Billy the Bison". When Hendo asked him about the stuffed toy, he seemed a little embarrassed until she told him how all the paratroopers had good luck items they carried when they jumped. He immediately lit up and talked a lot about Billy. He said he and his dad were out hiking while his mother was at home earning money!

4/10 It was really cold last night. Glad for my 15? sleeping bag although I was still a little old. Didn't' get much sleep. Today we passed the 100 mile mark which is close to the top of Albert Mtn, 5,250 msl. Albert Mtn is really steep with a bit of a rock scramble at the top. It was a nice clear mild temperature day. You could see forever from the top. Maybe my luck has changed since my last hike. Last time it seemed that I always had foul weather on the summits. Aside from Albert Mtn today was a pretty easy hike. Still with Hydro, T&T, Miracle and +1.

Made 12.1 to Rock Gap Shelter. I stayed in this shelter in 2010 on a very cold and rainy night. There were six of us in the shelter and by 7:00 everyone was completely in their sleeping bags, head and all. Tonight is pretty mild, though, and Freckles and I are staying in the shelter hoping for an early get away to catch the shuttle into Franklin, NC for showers, laundry, resupply, and town food.

4/11 Last night we had music by Catfish who is carrying his guitar. He is a street musician and has lived in Seattle, New York City, and New Orleans. He sang and played mostly early jazz and ragtime. He is having some foot problems and is really limping.

Met a young girl from Japan, trail name "Upside Down Monkey". She got the name because she flipped out of her hammock. I love it! Gandalf was also there and played the jew's harp. So with the nice fire and the music, it was a great evening. The rest of the group, T&T, Hydro, Sky, and Miracle and +1, slept in our tents at a camp area a little further down the hill.

Freckles and I made the 9:00 shuttle into Franklin, NC. Enjoyed fresh fruit "trail magic" left by persons for the hikers while we waited for the shuttle.

The motels and hostels that cater to the hikers run free shuttles to and from town and around town so hikers can resupply.

So today is shower, laundry, and eating town food. Also had boxes waiting that were bumped ahead from Hiawassee. Next stop is NOC, Nantahala Outdoor Center.

Have a great day!

Drag'n Fly

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