Dates ........ Thursday, May 2, 2002
Miles ........ 12.1 miles Climb 2850' total
From ........ Siler Bald Shelter NC
To ............. Cold Spring Shelter, NC
Weather ... 52DegF, breezy, cool, in the clouds most of day.

Thursday, May 2, 2002

Wayah Bald, NC 5342' and observation tower (Very hazy views.)

Its nice to be hiking with Brett again but I can't help wonder if he isn't a rain magnet. In April 2000 we hiked central Virginia and Shenandoah Park together and it was rain or mist every day for 13 of the 14 days we hiked together. I continued to hike for 7 days after Brett left and it was sunny and bright every day. Go figure. But, seriously, it's always nice to be with him; he is a good friend and I'm really glad to have him along.

We left Siler Bald shelter wearing raingear. We were in the clouds and the trees were dripping heavily, and it was quite chilly. The trail was wet and slippery. The first challenge of the day was getting through a large tree that had recently blown down across the trail. It was on a steep hillside, so there was no way around it on either side. Top (of Copper & Top) had warned us about it. We climbed, wiggled and squirmed and made our way through. It was a tough one, though. We overtook Ed "Turtle", then he overtook us as we took a break. Brett may be having boot problems, but is hiking well.

We meet a hiker going south that is wearing just sandals on his feet. He claims his feet are used to it and toughened up. To each his own. I stub my toes way too often in hiking boots to chance stubbing and breaking them in sandals.

We reach the summit of Wayah bald where there is a nice stone memorial observation tower in memory of John Bernard Byrne, a former Nantahala Forest Supervisor. There would be great views but for the extreme haze cutting visibility severely. Caribou Frank joins us at the summit. His disposable camera is giving him fits but I think I figured out a way to get it working again. It is nice to be able to dry out a bit. The warm sunshine feels good.

Brett "Firefly" Chellis and myself at Wayah Bald and the John Byrne Memorial observation tower.

At the spring down the trail we fill up on water and continue hiking. At 3:15 we hike ahead of Caribou Frank at Burningtown Gap and start the 950-foot climb up to the shelter. It is not easy this muggy day so late in the afternoon after our energy is expended. When we reach the shelter, Thumper and Irish Gypsy are there. Thumper moves on and Caribou Frank, Chainsaw and Ed "Turtle" come in, not necessarily in that order.

I screwed up big time. I counted the days in the schedule from my last resupply to Brett's meeting instead of counting the days to my next resupply. That left me short two days food. I had one day of food in reserve. Brett was generous and helped me out and Irish Gypsy gave me a nice Spanish Rice dinner. Hikers always help one another. That's part of what makes hiking so nice.

After supper another storm threatened. We all scurried about and got in the shelter and bedded down. It was a full house again - 6 of us shoulder to shoulder. Just as we began to doze off the Heavens opened up big time with high winds, thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain. Brett and Ed scrambled in mildly hysterical pandemonium to rig a tarp across the shelter opening. As son as one end was up, the other blew down. Several methods and different things were tried before they were finally successful. Those of us not putting the tarp up could not help but laugh, but really could do no more than hold a light or two without getting in the way. It was worth it and fun besides. Thank you Brett and Ed. And Irish Gypsy for the tarp and nice supper.

Then it was my turn to get a giggle out of everyone. The shelter had a duct tape patch in the roof right over my sleeping area. It wasn't long before the water was pouring in. I knew it would be futile to try and stop the leak. Everyone scrunched even closer, allowing me to move almost away from the leak. I pulled the plastic sheet that Irish Gypsy had spread on the shelter floor over my sleeping bag for protection and that worked fine.

I trapped 5 mice before the 10 PM mouse-trapping curfew but the high wind, thunder, lightning and rain continued for much of the night. Nothing like the sound of lots of big raindrops beating down on a metal roof to lull a tired hiker to sleep.

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