4/30/99 Natahala Outdoor Shelter   Miles Today : 5.7 Miles from Springer : 134.3

Well, today turned out to be another terrible day of hiking. The temps got down to 37 last night and snow was reported at the higher elevations. All of us at the shelter ran the 5.7 miles to N.O.C. for a hot shower and lodging for the night.

Fortunately, by around 3pm, the weather cleared some, and it was a pleasant day of lounging around Wesser, NC. Today is Dave and Sue's last day of hiking with us. We have kept bumping into them for the last few days as they were out for a little more than a week hiking a section of the trail.

Tonight, they took Fah-Queen, Trail Princess and Drive-By to the supermarket for supplies and beer. We drank and ate all night celebrating the sun and bidding Dave and Sue farewell for now. They are from New York so when we get up to the area, they may join us again.

As for tomorrow, I plan on another short day for 3 reasons: 1) I just reloaded on food 2.) There is a 4000 ft, 8 mile climb to start the day and 3) Possible snow tomorrow night. YIKES.

I know now that my schedule is too aggressive. It's not that I can't do the miles, but the weather has almost everything to do with the number of miles I can put in. I am currently 1 day behind because of cold rain, and there isn't a lot of control I have over that.

Well, tomorrow day looks to be a perfect hiking day: sunny and 65. Should prove to be my first views of NC since I entered the state. Nice.

-Chomp

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