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[at-l] Trip report - Deep Gap to Wesser, NC

Left Tuscaloosa Thursday (4/21) with my friend Jim and son Jeffrey at 6:00
AM, arrived at my parent's house in Cleveland, TN around 9:30.  Headed out
US 64, discovered son had left his boots at home.  After a quick emergency
trip to Wal-Mart, headed on over to NC. We dropped the car off at the
parking lot between the highway and the river at NOC - the guys in the
office said we could park anywhere we wanted to across the bridge.  Headed
back down to Deep Gap and hit the trail around 2:30.  BTW - USFS 71 is in
pretty good shape, some limited logging operations taking place on both
sides of the road.  About this time we discovered that dad (me) had
forgotten to bring water!  Fortunately the creek just up the trail below
Standing Indian shelter was ready and willing to fill us up!

We hustled our way up the trail and reached the site of the new Carter Gap
shelter.  We had not planned on staying at the shelter, but the benches and
the table convinced us to give it a try.  I thought we would have the
shelter to ourselves that night (we had seen no one on the trail all
afternoon), but about an hour later a long-distance section hiker, Tom Park
of Lubbock, TX (Ghost Dancer 7) showed up.  Man can he talk!  We had a
great time swatting bugs and swapping tales well into the night.  It was a
good thing that we stayed in the shelter because a wild thunderstorm hit
about midnight.  Lotsa rain, lightning, and wind.

Headed out Friday morning about 8:30, reached Betty Creek Gap a little
before 10.  Later on, we "zoomed" up Albert Mtn - took us about 15 minutes.
 We met the only other person we saw all day at the firetower. Brer Rabbit
(I think was his name) had started south last year in June! Not much of a
talker, but he seemed to be very ambivalent about finishing the trail
shortly.  We finished up a killer 17 mile day by camping by the creek 1
mile north of Winding Stair Gap (US 64).  In two days we had met exactly
two other hikers on the trail.  Just about perfect.

Another (relatively) late start on Saturday morning - left camp about 8:45.
 Almost immediately ran into another long-distance section hiker from
Newnan GA (did not get his name).  He had spent 8 years section hiking
south from Maine.  He was slackpacking this last part of the trail, which
he had been on for 28 days.  We reached Wayah Gap about 11:30 and pushed on
to Wayah Bald.  Met the female half of two couples just before the summit.
A couple of families were sightseeing on the observation tower.  We met
another pair of AT hikers there also.  One young man had thru-hiked last
year and was up from Atlanta for the weekend.  Larry (Tabasco) was on his
11th day of a planned 2 month hike as far into Virginia as he could make
it.  He had already knocked out one 20 mile day and was really moving
along.  Larry left about 30 minutes before us and we did not see him again
until we reached the Cold Spring Shelter area around 6.  Lotsa bugs -
biting flies of some type.  Jeffrey and I dived into the tent to escape
them.  Just before dark we started a small campfire and that chased away
the bugs.  Larry camped right beside us (on the ridge above the shelter)
and we had another enjoyable evening talking with him.

Left late again on Sunday morning - about 8:30.  I wore my Asolo full
leather boots - my feet were in great shape.  Jeffrey and Jim were both
suffering from blisters - bad boots and too many miles!  Our last day out
was very interesting.  My son was literally flying on the downhills - then
Jim and I would catch him on the uphills.  I was not going to risk my 41
year old knees hurrying down those steep trails to Wesser! We ran across a
Konnarock crew doing a trail relocation (adding switchbacks) to the trail
just below the "Jumpup."  They said we would be the last few to use the old
section of trail since the new one would be ready the next day.  Spent the
rest of the day cruising on the downhills.  Putting my hot, tired feet into
the Nantahala River really felt good!

One of the best trips I have ever had - even with our big miles.  The trail
was in excellent shape - thanks to the Nantahala Hiking Club.  Water was
plentiful, the temperatures were perfect, and the bugs were not too bad.
Only thing I should have done was put the Vaseline on my chapped leg/groin
area a little sooner!

Looking forward to our next trip to the AT.  Hope to take off one Friday
and make a long weekend out of the trip from Wesser to Fontana this fall.

Joey Parker
Tuscaloosa, AL

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