Total Miles Hiked: 120.8
Miles Hiked Today: 11.0
Start Time: 1330
End Time: 2030
New Favorite Drink- Hawaiian Punch "Red" Flavor drink
North Carolina continues to impress. The views today were panoramic and striking from atop two balds.
We started the day at the hostel and got a ride to Emmanuel PCA Church. Sunday school was on the Westminster Confession of Faith and the sermon was from Romans Chapter 3. We felt right at home. They also served coffee and Hostess Cupcakes, so I had 2 of each. The pastor and the elders asked if there was anything at all we need, and I said a ride to the trail would be great. After church we realized that Sage had left her hiking boots at the hostel, so a friendly fellow hiker from the church was more than happy to run us by the hostel first and then drove us to the trail via Bojangles.
Fed both physically and spiritually, we got back on the trail by 1330 and started the climb to Silers Bald.
After a very long, steady climb, we were met by this view.
Occasional breaks on the trail provide a chance for Sage to write in her journal.
Our next big climb of the day was to Wayah Bald. About 30 minutes before sunset, we stumbled to the top of our last long climb of the day. There is a stone observation tower at Wayah Bald, so we climbed up and enjoyed the view. From the top we could see the Smokies, which we will be entering in a matter of days.
We rolled into Wayah Shelter shortly before sunset and started to unpack. A thru hiker who had been at the hostel the night before said there were two spots left in the shelter. He also offered to move his bag from next to the wall so Sage would have the wall on one side and me on the other. We accepted his offer, and set up our gear.
During our time in Franklin, we picked up 8 Big Red Smokies with buns. I noticed there was a nice fire going, so I had Sage find a good stick and we started roasting our dinner. We then shared the remaining sausages with all the hikers around the fire. Everyone was thrilled, the sausages were a big hit. A Thru Hiker from New Zealand commented that the evening would be one of those memorable events etched in his memory of his hike.
Want to make a hiker happy? Unexpected Food works every time.
Love your story about the sausages.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day. Love the views!
Probably the best theory for the origin of the balds was the mammoths or mastodons eating the trees. After watching elephants ripping trees apart in Africa and leaving destruction in their wake, that theory is easy to visualize.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Sage is writing in her journal - it will be a priceless momento. Hope you have some more opportunities for someone to take photos that include both of you.
It was wonderful that you could share your bounty and create a memorable night for all.