April 11-12 in North Carolina

April 11, 2005 | Day 15 | Miles: 10.6 | Total Miles: 144.4
End: Locust Cove Gap, unofficial campsite, Tent
Danielle:
Sunny and warm
After a big breakfast at NOC with Mom and Dad, we were all fueled up for the day. And what a day. Nothing but up and down. 8m up and 2.5m down. Literally. Plus it was warm too. Ah, the joys of hiking. But it is good to be back on the trail. After all, that's why we're here.
We're camped with three other guys. One of them, Dutchman, started off with 90 lbs, no joke, of food, mostly canned. How's that for a rocky start? Now he's down to 55 lbs, which is pretty good considering. Oh, and he has a camoflauge tent. He's a nice guy but it's pretty funny to be set up next to a camoflauge tent :-)
Not much else for excitement unless you count the stupid human tricks Ryan was pulling as he tried to hang our food to protect it from critter and bears. At shelters there are often cables hung with pulleys so that makes it easy, but if not, it's up to the hikers to figure something out themselves. There weren't many good limbs off the trees around here, so we were using one Dutchman was using too. The rope either went under the limb, over it but didn't drop down enough to grab, or got stuck on Dutchman's rope. 8 tries later he finally got it right. Not the easiest food hanging experience ever, but at least it keeps our food safe. We have to eat after all :-)

Ryan:
sunny, warm, afternoon clouds
last night i watched espn and drank pbr. ahhhh... after a hearty breakfast and sending danielle's parents on their way, we went up...and up...and then up some more. we climbed from 1740' at noc to 5062' at the top of cheoah bald. we're tired. it was fairly tough. plus, i think our rhythm was all thrown off by taking a day off. neither of us felt great. hopefully, we can get back in the saddle tomorrow. looks like rain on tap for tomorrow. at least that's what the weather channel said last night. the weather channel!!!! wahooooooooo....

April 12, 2005 | Day 16 | Miles: 11.6 | Total Miles: 156.0
End: Cable Gap Shelter
Danielle:
Rain, with some sun at the end of the day
Well, it didn't rain overnight so at least we packed up a dry tent, but about 45 min. into the hike, it started up, and pretty much kept going, with small spots of sun all day. Now least you think this is all fun and games out here, here's how today went...
Rain, and then a big hill about 4m in, which means you're wearing rainpants and raincoat to keep the rain out, but the fabric makes you sweat, so you're wet inside and out. Fun, fun. And your hiking partner is grouchy due to aches and pains/rain/hot/sweaty/uphill, and well, you're feeling it all too, but someone has to be positive so that would be you... But what can you do but keep on going? So here we are. A bit less mileage than we had been thinking but it was pouring when we got here, Ryan's shoulder was hurting and I had just taken my first fall yet. It was a good one too. On a downhill, I slipped on a wet root, and peeled right out onto my back. So it was time to stop for the night. Ah, a day on the trail :-) But... "after all my complaining, I love this life, I love this life..." --Crowded House

Ryan:
rain, sun late
today sucked.