Total trail mileage: 134.2
Starting location: Wayah Shelter
Ending location: A. Rufus Morgan Shelter
Weather: partly cloudy in the morning, cloudy with sleet/snow/rain in
the afternoon. It was 40 degrees at midday and 42 in the afternoon.
I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=35.268126,+-83.572237
Today I was making good time and all 6 of us from last night stayed at
more or less the same pace. There was still some snow, but it wasn't
nearly as bad as the day before. And there were even sections of dirt
again! In the morning I could actually see some of the mountains, but
the clouds moved in by noon. We were getting some sleet which then
turned to snow which then turned to rain. It wasn't a lot of snow,
but it was enough to stick to the ground. I had been thinking I was
done with new snow on this trip.
Unfortunately I think Frankie the Sleeper may have called it quits :
(. He had left the trail for a couple weeks because he got really
sick and I don't think he was enjoying himself today and yesterday.
Everyone else stopped at the Wesser Bald Shelter. They were gonna
continue on until someone pointed out that they shouldn't rush to get
to the Smokies if they aren't passable yet. Hopefully that is not the
case as I am meeting my dad to go through them on Tuesday. The 5 of
us had considered splitting a cabin at the NOC for the night, but
after calling we found out there were no openings.
I passed by my third observation tower in North Carolina today, and
for the third time I had a wonderful view of a white cloud. Three
strikes. I wonder how many I get?
There was a decent stretch this afternoon walking along a ridgeline.
I always enjoy the ridgeline walks for some reason. It is neat to be
on the five yards or so of flat land with both the left and the right
sharply sloping down. It is like there is only one possible path and
that is the path I am taking.
A lot of the trees in this area are covered in Lichen. It seems like
it makes the trees glow.
I am actually staying in the shelter again tonight. The shelter is an
older and smaller shelter, but I am the only one here tonight. I
could have continued on for another mile to stay in the NOC bunkhouse
but opted to stop here, not pay any money, and get up early tomorrow
to attempt a really long day. I am going to try to make 16.8 miles
with a 3000 ft climb right off the bat. I probably won't make it, but
if I do, Monday will be really easy.
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