Mar 20

DAY #18
START LOCATION: Nantahala Outdoor Center
FINISH LOCATION: Locust Cove Gap Campsite
TODAY'S MILEAGE: 10.5
TRIP MILEAGE: 145.5
MILES TO GO: 2,033.6

Packed up fast at the hostel this morning so Scruffy, Switchback,
Cornpatch and I could nab breakfast at the NOC's cafe right at 8AM.
They had one waitress working the whole place. Took...for... ever.
This was my first breakfast at a restaurant since the day pops and I
had breakfast in Gainesville, GA on the morning I started the hike.
Feels like months ago. When the food finally came, I had a breakfast
burrito... Gone in about 4 minutes.

We didn't get on the trail until 930 because of the understaffed
restaurant. About 1 mile in, I realized I forgot my first item of the
trip... I cut the pages out of my guidebook and put them in a ziploc
so I can grab it quickly out of ny pocket to look at throughout the
day. Left it on the restaurant table. Not worth hiking back... I have
the rest of the book, but its pages are missing over the next 5 days
hike. Bummer, but no worries... I can borrow one along the way to take
a peek.

The hike was rough out of the gate... I'd asked the waitress twice for
a glass of water that never came. So, I didn't start with the liter I
usually drink before I set out. The morning sun was hot and the 6
mile, 3,000 foot climb was relentless. I fell back of Scruffy and
Cornpatch initially, but I reached a fantastic ice-cold spring about 4
miles up, pounded my remaining half liter of water and refilled. I
felt much better after that. Caught up to Scruffy soon after and we
reached Sassafras Gap Shelter for lunch with Sofa King and some other
hikers that departed NOC that morning.

Feeling good after lunch, Sofa, Scruffy, Cornpatch and I decided that
we would push to spring-fed Locust Cove Gap for some tenting. It was
a great decision, and the 1,400 ft descent was great after the morning
climb. Sofa took off, but great conversation amongst the three of us
which made the unimpressive remaining 3 miles fly by.

What was crazy was that we ended up with about a dozen other thru
hikers tenting here as well. So tomorrow morning, with rain forecast
in the afternoon, there will be a mad dash to Cable Gap Shelter as
about a dozen hikers will vie for the 6 spots inside. I might be
tenting... I'm not a fast hiker compared to these others. But no
problem... I'm ready.

-n8dog