Friday June 8, miles today 7.1, miles from Springer 143.6

Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC), June 8, 2018

We waited until 8 am to have breakfast at the NOC restaurant then went to the outfitter to print our Smoky mountain permits.  On the way back to our bunkhouse we met Mike and Mike a father/son team who we had seen several times including the shelter at Standing Indian and the Budget Inn in Franklin.  The son is trying a thru hike and the father returning to Phoenix when they get to Fontana dam.  We exchanged trail news.  They were taking a zero day and had purchased adventure tickets for zip lining, white water rafting and kayaking.  We also stopped to chat with a mother/young son team Late Light and Miles who were doing a large section hike, I had met them the previous day at Cold Spring shelter during my early morning run.

Behind NOC, June, 8 2018

We started the morning with a long 6 mile climb.  I am trying to make up my mind on whether I prefer the climbs or drops better.  My stamina is getting better but not nearly as good as my partners.  I have short legs and when measured by footprints in mud on flat muddy ground, their strides are 14 to 17 inches longer than mine.  I am a little jealous of them. Major Tom has the stamina and knowledge of the marathon runner.  For the first couple of days I hiked with Hellcat, I was able to keep up with him and learn.  He has a good consistent pace and great foot placement.  That all ended at the outfitter at Franklin where he bought trail runner shoes, light weight trekking poles and some cool sun glasses.  Since then he has been powering up the uphills and gliding down the downhills with Obi-Wan.  They are like a couple of sports cars testing the curves on Alpine roads.

I caught up with the two sports cars at Swim Bald just in time for coffee.  Major Tom came by, but continued to Sassafras Gap shelter.  It was starting to get cloudy so we packed up and headed for the shelter a mile away and arrived just before the thunder, lightning and pouring rain.  We decided to stay as we were trying to time our arrival to Fontana Dam.

We had a couple people stop by during the afternoon.  John came running in 15 minutes after the storm started and stayed until the weather cleared up.  He was planning on camping at the top of Cheoah Bald.  Later in the early evening Igor and Elizabeth, a father/daughter team came in to camp.  Igor's pack must have weighed over 65 lbs.  He was pretty grouchy and exhausted when he came in and we were pretty careful.