Appalachian Trail Day 13
03-12-01 Day 13 6:05 PM
14.8 Miles, 141 AT miles
Tellico Gap – Sassafras Cap Shelter
Rain in the afternoon, warm, overcast.
Day 4 of Rain
Stayed at a hostel last night. Ron Vaughan was his name. He has hiked the PCT twice, CDT once, and the AT once. This guy was a fountain of knowledge. We talked to each other and watched the “Matrix”. Lasagna for dinner, ice cream, popcorn and waffles in the morning. I showered but couldn’t do laundry. A very good stop.
The hike itself was easy at first and then a killer climb and then a killer descent. Painful doesn’t describe what the knees felt.
On Monday after leaving Ron’s, it was a short climb, then a long descent to the N.O.C. (Natahala Outdoor Center) in Wesser. Not a town just an outdoor store.
I got to the NOC at noon. I had lunch with Citrus. A buffalo chicken sandwich. I then made a terrible decision to push on to Sassafras Cap Shelter. When I finally made the 7 miles and 3,000 feet of climbing in the pouring rain, I got to a full shelter, wet boots and packs everywhere. Clothes (we) hung on every nail and lots of people. I managed to sleep across the feet of the other 7 people there. It was one of my worst sleeps yet. It was only 42° but everything was wet and cold. I had people kicking me all night and wet boots on my other side.
When I got up the rain started again. Right now I’m at Brown Fork Gap Shelter to dry out clothes while the sun is its warmest. I will head on to Cable Gap Shelter tonight.
———-
Scatman
Get out there!
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!