Mouse over underlined text for distance from Springer Mountain
Saturday 3 March 2007 - Phyl and I departed Cloud 9 Hiker Hostel, Hiawassee, GA where we had spent the night. We departed after saying goodbys to our gracious hosts Laura and Frank. Phyl dropped me off at Dicks Creek Gap on a cold day - temps slightly below freezing. I met Clem who also departed the same morning from Hiawassee and we quickly passed Cowart and Bull Gaps on our way past Plum Orchard Shelter. We continued a steady climb for most of the day through Blue Ridge and Rich Cove Gaps up to the Georgia-North Carolina state line (elev. 3825'). As I was crossing the border, I met Cough Drop, a thru-hiker, and then Adirondack, the Appalachian Trails section maintainer. A real colorful guy who gave me a brief history of the trail area and showed me his Adirondack back pack (picture provided) which was made of woven reeds similar to Adirondack rocking chairs. One of the toughest parts of my hike thus far was the next ascent up Bly and Sassafras Gaps to the Muskrat Creek Shelter where I spent the night. I was fairly warm from the hike, but chilled considerably that night with sub-freezing temps and strong winds that night. Spent the night with fellow hikers including Cough Drop (tent) and shelter buddies Clem, Gut Hook, Carefree, Bobcat and a South-bound thru-hiker "Weapons of Mouse Destruction". Distance covered today was 12 miles.
Sunday 4 March 2007 - Rose early, thought of Les and John ushering at church, ate breakfast and started out with Clem for the Carter Gap Shelter. I should tell you that Clem is a UGA music major who is on an academic and music scholarship. He was given a 5-6 month sabbatical from his major professor to hike the AT if he would continue practicing his french horn as he progressed north on the trail. As days passed, he would serenade us each evening (when his valves and mouth piece weren't freezing) helping alleviate much of the daily stress for all thru-hikers. Clem's instrument and case weighed 8 pounds - a significant additional burden on top of his normal hiking gear. Clem and I made 11 miles that day to the Carter Gap Shelter (elev. 4540). We passed a number of side trails including the Chunky Gal, Kimsey Creek, Lowe Trail Ridge, and the Timber Ridge Trails.
Monday 5 March 2007 - Clem and I both rose early after a nice rest this morning on our way to Rock Gap Shelter, 12 miles away. Friends Gut Hook and Cough Drop had camped at Betty Creek Gap, 4 miles beyond our Carter Gap Shelter and were long gone by the time we reached their campsite. We passed Mooney Gap and Bear Pen Trail crossing before climbing Albert Mountain (elev. 5250), the second toughest climb for me thus far. We then passed the Big Spring Shelter followed by Glassmine Gap before reaching Rock Gap Shelter late in the afternoon. "Crutch" had heard we were coming that evening and had left two cans of the most refreshingly cold orange soda at the shelter for us - a little bit of TRAIL MAGIC. As I was telling Clem about "Crutch", he suddenly appeared and offered to give us a lift to town. Crutch had parked his van on a nearby forest service road. We both declined as we had already set up camp and had dinner. We made arrangements for a shuttle pickup the following morning at Winding Stair Gap, approximately 4 miles away.
Tuesday 6 March 2007 - Clem and I arose early and dashed to Winding Stair Gap to meet our appointed pickup time with Crutch at 9 AM. Although there was one stiff climb, both of us were able to make the 3.75 miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes - probably the fastest time we have made on the trail to date. Crutch shuttled both of us to Franklin, NC for supplies repairs. Clem replaced his broken hiker pole, and I decided to spend the night in town at Ron Haver's Budget Inn. I showered and cleaned up, laundered my clothes, picked up my food shipment at the Franklin Post Office, and then shopped for missing supplies I would need. Later that day, I went to dinner with Crutch and a new hiker, "Crash", Bill Lemerises, who is a New Hampshire business man, on his 4th (98,99,02 & 07) thru-hike. He is a true New Englander and almost always hikes in shorts - even in freezing weather. He is methodical and very knowledgeable about all aspects of thru-hiking and the Trail - a wonderful teacher/mentor for me. Total 3 3/4 miles today.
Wednesday 7 March 2007 - Crash and I departed Franklin, NC via Crutch's shuttle to Winding Stair Gap. It was a chilled start with a stiff 1000 foot climb up to the Siler Bald Shelter (elev. 4600). We continued our climb to Wayah (Cherokee word for "wolf") Bald and the John B. Byrne Memorial Tower (picture provided of this beautiful stone monument). Crash and I rested together in the warm sun next to the tower on the grassy bald and really enjoyed our quick lunch there. We continued past Licklog Gap and Burningtown Gaps before our final rigorous ascent to the Cold Spring Shelter (elev. 4920) for our stay that night. Total miles today - 12.
Thursday 8 March 2007 - Crash and I set our sights on Wesser Gap (elev 1170) and the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Wesser, NC that day. We decided to share a room if we were able to make it there so that we could wash our clothes, clean up, and share a good meal together. Total miles - 11. Crash made Wesser Gap before I did and patiently waited for me around 2:30 so we could grab lunch together before picking up a room in the hiker hostel adjacent to the Trail. After cleaning up, we went back to eat dinner and shop for supplies. On the way we met several friends from Neels Gap, GA (Noodles and Sardine) who were hiking with their dog. Noodles had trouble with boots and her knee was being medicated, so they planned to leave days later for Clingmans Dome. It was a warm night. We slept with the windows open and heard the bull frogs croaking till early morning.
Friday 9 March 2007 - Crash and I set off early to a rigorous climb out of Wesser Gap. We hoped to make Brown Fork Gap Shelter (elev. 3800) by nightfall. This was a tough day for elevation climbs up to the 5000 feet and distance ( our longest day at 16 miles). We ridge walked up and down Wright and Grassy Gaps, then Swim Bald before reaching Sassafras Gap Shelter for lunch. With 9 miles left to go that afternoon, I pushed though Cheoah Bald, then Locust Cove and Simp Gaps before reaching Stecoah Gap, NC about 4 PM that afternoon. I was tired and ready to camp in the Gap, but found it too noisy so I decided to press forward to Brown Fork Gap where I knew Crash and Clem would be camping. Let me tell you, this was the most difficult, tiresome, and demoralizing last stage of any of my hiking days thus far. I felt I had no energy, was completely out of breath, and constantly stopping as I tried to make this last stage of my day's trek to reach Brown Fork Gap by nightfall. I finally reached my destination and knew I was getting close as I heard the sounds of Clem's french horn echoing through the hills and gap as I approached the shelter. Never before had music sounded so uplifting and spirit-raising - a real experience for me. I slept well that night although my feet felt like they had been through a meat grinder that day. Total miles - 16.
Saturday 10 March 2007 - Crash, Clem and I departed Brown Fork Gap Shelter for Fontana Dam and Village (elev.1700) early in the morning. I was a beautiful hiking day and we made quick time through Hogback, Cody, and Yellow Creek Gaps before reaching Cable Gap Shelter (elev. 2880)late in the morning. I had a quick lunch there, moving on through Black Gum and Walker Gaps before reaching Fontana Dam about 1:30 PM that afternoon. At this point, Crash's expertise paid off and he told me to meet him at the Fontana Dam Marina so we could register for our Smokey Mountain Park Pass. We obtained our passes, then shuttled to Fontana Village for our stay that evening at the community lodge. After eating, we found that Crash's (Bill's) wife GiGi had driven down from Hilton Head to stay the night. So, while GiGi and Bill registered for another room, I prepared to return to hike the last 1 1/4 miles down to Fontana Dam and the Fontana Dam Hilton Shelter where Clem was staying. Since I was alone in my room, Bill and I invited Clem to stay the night with me in my room. After laundering clothes for all of us, Bill, Gigi, Clem and I had dinner in the lodge restaurant that evening.
Sunday 11 March 2007 - I arose early and requested a shuttle from Tina, the Fontana Village Shuttle Driver the next morning at 7. Because of the Daylight Savings time change that evening, I was 10 minutes late for my shuttle ride and had to wait until 7:20 for a pickup. I am sometimes amazed how things work out and this is just such a situation. When I got in the van and loaded my pack and staff, Tina noticed my "Walking for Alley" shirt and asked about it. I told her about the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome and its effects on children. As I did this, Tina reached for her tip cup and handed me all the money she had collected that morning for her shuttle services. She said that she had a daughter who was afflicted with another rare childhood disease and understood what CDLS families were experiencing. I graciously accepted her gift and told her that it would be much appreciated by the National Foundation in Connecticut. I was humbled by this wonderful lady's generosity and her willingness to give what little she had to the cause. It also raised my spirits that day and carried me across the Fontana Dam into my first day in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park that day.
Regards,
Jim Schiwal "Castanets"
Next 19 Mar 2007