Fontana Dam, NC to Garenflo Gap, NC

Day 10, Saturday, October 7

Groundhog Creek Shelter to Roaring Fork Shelter, 11.3 miles

The rain stopped sometime between three and four AM. It is quite cool this morning as everyone begins to get up shortly after 7:00 AM. "Corn Dog" is the first up with me soon following. I hope Mike and Bob aren't too sore this morning.

We pack slowly and eat a cold breakfast. It's almost 8:40 AM by the time we get away. Not a great start, but ok. The other couple in the shelter is only trying to reach Max Patch today. We've got to reach Roaring Fork Shelter to keep on schedule.

It's uphill out of the shelter as we climb Flat Ridge over the next couple of miles. Reach Brown Gap by mid-morning and rest. It looks like we are climbing into the clouds with each step. Low ceiling this morning. It's been relatively easy hiking today, just uphill at points.

We reach Max Patch Road at 1:15 PM. We take a short rest break at the road. It's cold as the breeze passes. At 1:30 PM we cross the road though the stile and begin the climb to Max Patch. We cross a road thirty minutes later as the sun is finally peeking through the cloud cover over our heads. As we climb Max Patch, the sun melts the clouds away and it warms up substantially. We've hiked in the mist and fog all morning, but as we climb higher on Max Patch, the sky is suddenly blue and the view is outstanding. We take some pictures near the top and enjoy crossing the summit in the sun. Clouds begin rolling back up the slope toward us as we head for the woods on the trail. It's like the summit has been uncovered for a few minutes and we were there.

After passing through the shaded woods, we stop at the rhododendron tunnel at the bottom in a sunny spot and rest for a few minutes. Mike presses on while Bob and I make a few last minute adjustments to our packs. When we pass through the rhododendron tunnel and reach the open pasture, I don't see where the trail is leading. I didn't see which way Mike went ahead of me so I turn to the right on a worn trail and scout ahead for two hundred yards. Failing to see any white blazes, Bob and I walk back up the path and scout deeper into the pasture.

To our left, hidden from where we were previously standing, the trail skirts the left side of the field into the woods. We've got a little over five miles to go now and the trail offers good slope and conditions to make up some time. For the next two hours we follow and cross a small creek several times. We pass a group of four women/girls hiking southbound. Bob and I make good time, but we aren't catching up with Mike. He's either making good time or he missed the earlier turn as well.

At 4:30 PM we meet "Larry" resting beside the trail. He says he saw Mike fifteen minutes earlier. Larry seems to be having a tough time of it and is ready for the shelter to appear as well. We press on. Should be within a mile now.

Finally, the side trail to Roaring Fork Shelter appears at 5 PM and we stumble down the trail to the shelter. Roaring Fork Shelter is a big shelter with two sleeping platforms across from each other. Mike is there alone, and already has his laundry strung up over the platforms to dry. He had made great time this afternoon. We get water, begin cooking and hang up our wet clothes. My laundry is still wet from not being able to dry it at Mountain Moma's.

Larry shows up twenty minutes later. Looks like the four of us tonight. Larry weighs 280 pounds down from 325 pounds a few months ago. He has recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and is hiking the trail over the next two years while he is able. He's spent the summer at the Nantahala Outdoor Center working and is now headed for Hot Springs to work for the winter.

Larry builds a fire while we begin cooking supper. I eat everything in my food bag except some grits and a Snickers bar that I'm saving for tomorrow. I feel better now with some hot food in me.

Bob had brought a Walkman with him, but we weren't able to pick up the State-Clemson football game on the radio this afternoon and can't find a station giving scores. Mike and Bob hit their sleeping bags by 7 PM. I try to dry my clothes by the fire and talk with Larry for the next two hours. The temperature is supposed to be in the low thirties tonight, my/our coldest night yet. It takes me a long time, but I finally dry out all of my clothes by the fire. It'll feel better to have dry clothes in the morning, but even better, I won't be carrying an additional five pounds of water uphill anymore. I turn in about 9:30 PM, with the temperature already close to forty degrees.

The breeze kicks up all night and it's cold. The breeze blows the smoke from the fire into the shelter over the next couple of hours making breathing difficult. In spite of the cold, the mice are running back and forth through the tunnel that my tarp makes against the side of the shelter. Mike apparently left some trash in the side pocket of his pack and the mice finally find it. I chase them away several times during the night, but I finally give up. If they don't mind the cold so be it.

I get up once during the night and adjust my sleeping bag to try to stay warm.