North Carolina Hiking Trip - Day 6

I'd learned the previous night that SNOW was expected to hit the AT tonight! This news had the potential to really put a damper on my hiking plans over the weekend so I decided to move up the hike to this morning. It’s normally not easy to get a shuttle on short notice but I got lucky - Ron was available! This was good because I had one more “marooned” section to finish nearby. Packing for the weather was my next concern. Typically, I’ve carried a day pack with emergency items, food and water. This situation really required a bigger bag - fortunately, I had brought my backpack. As I loaded up the extra stuff for an unplanned night in the snowy woods, I discovered that I only had a flimsy pair of gloves (forgot my other winter stuff). Decided to take my chances with those and was ready to go, bright and early, this morning. I was awake by 0545 and was even able to fit in some telework in my room before I needed to check-out of my hotel.  By 0630, I drove over to McDonalds to pick up breakfast to go (0650).  I actually got a work call at 0700 and was on the phone for about 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, I drove north on NC-28 until seeing a sign that it was closed (!).  This meant I had to detour about 45 miles to meet the shuttle at the Nantahala Outdoor Center by 0800. I detoured through Franklin and followed US-23 and US-74 (an alternate route to reach the Nantahala Outdoor Center) and barely made it to my shuttle pickup point on time...  Ron showed up just after I did and he drove me up to Stecoah Gap (elev 3165’) in about 30 minutes.  Along the way, he told me about 30+ knot winds, Winter Storm advisories and other “watch outs” (the fact that he’d spent most of the previous day rescuing people off the mountains was stated more than once). By the time he left me on the side of the road, I was having second thoughts - but then he was gone so I was committed! Started a significant, nearly continuous uphill climb (SOBO), wondering if I’d prepared properly... For the first three miles (part of it re-tread from 2014), I didn’t see anyone and spent my time getting used to the load I was carrying. It was a bit windy and chilly (mid 30s) but I felt comfortable in my two layers (short sleeve under light jacket). By Locust Grove Gap (elev 3690’), I thought I was going to be fine. Soon afterwards, though, I encountered my first Thru hiker of the day (lady with Siberian Husky). I saw a series of other hikers (men and women) coming down off the ridge but only ended up getting Intel from #8 and #12. Everyone was in a big hurry to reach the “Fontana Hilton” shelter before the weather. I would have talked longer to the talkative hikers but then thought I should resume my initial thoughts of urgency - especially after the snow flurries began... At Cheoah Bald (elev 5062’), I met a man (#13) who told me dire tales of the cold, windy and wet that awaited me in the next mile. He was all bundled up but I was just starting to feel a bit cold. Despite the scary predictions, I headed downhill without adding any layers. During this phase, I realized that I was missing the spectacular views of the Smokies due to clouds below me. The wind picked up (trees making ominous noises) and the temps dropped below freezing. Kept going, though, and had fun talking briefly with two girls from Virginia (VT & UVA) and an older guy who seemed to be chasing them... I passed the Sassafras Gap Shelter (elev 4400’) and the wind started biting through my jacket. Didn’t stop, though, and soon found myself at the top of Swim Bald (elev 4710’), looking at the first, sustained downhill of the day. Yay! This feature of the section was the reason I chose the direction - it was a nearly six mile descent to the NOC. The rest of the Thru hikers I saw (all the way up to 24!) stopped me to ask how far they were from the top. VERY glad I didn’t have their climb. Met one guy who seemed to be about my age (Joe) who had a lot to tell me about his AT hike. He also mentioned that his (trail) “Family” would probably want to know where he was and this turned out to be true - the next several older guys asked if I’d seen him. Otherwise, I went as fast as I could to reach the NOC (elev 1749’). The weather got better and better and I even stopped to talk to a guy who looked just like Santa Claus and wanted to dispense life and trail wisdom from a rock on which he’d chosen to rest. By then, I wasn’t worried about finishing, I just wanted to avoid injury... I didn’t hear any signs of civilization until about a mile from my car - then the deja vu set in (more re-tread from 2014). Finished my day after almost 14 miles at around 1515. Glad to have this section completed!  After reaching my car, I checked on messages (I had a lot) and returned some phone calls.  Sadly I earned that my cousin, Chuck, had passed away.  I informed the kids (they were very sad) and then drove east on US-74.  I reached Bryson City by 1600 and checked into the Microtel for the night.  I did some more telework (3+ more hours) and ate dinner (the sandwich I'd picked up at Subway the day before).  I then relaxed and watched TV until bed time (2200).  Closed my eyes with a feeling that I was "hunkered down" in a good place, ready for whatever “storm” ended up hitting...  AT Today = 12.40 miles / G.T. AT = 1545.16 miles