Day 7 (109.4-120.4)

  I checked out at 9:30a and waited for “city taxi” to arrive. A lady in an old Subaru pulled up and unlocked her doors. I guess this is it? I opened the back door to load my backpack and was advised to sit in the front. Maggie was her name, a sweet older lady from So-Cal who now lives in Franklin shuttling people around. Maggie’s Subaru was decked out in all sorts of neat trinkets. From peace signs to Eeyore stuffed animals. We had good talks on the ride back up to the trailhead. 

We arrived at winding stair gap shortly after 10 and I set off to my next campsite Wayah Bald Shelter. I purposely set my mileage low for the day to help recover my Achilles. With ample amount of time to pull of 11ish miles I walked SLOW. Uphill, downhill, every which way, slow. I decided with the low mileage I’d stop to check out some blue blazes along the way. The blue blaze usually represents a scenic view or a water source either a waterfall or to gather water for consumption. 

My blue blaze of the day was up through a field, a narrow strip of mud leading up a steep hill for roughly a quarter of a mile. The blue blaze lead me right up to Silar Bald. Incredible views the whole way around, it did not disappoint. I stopped for a snack and to take a few photos, leaving shortly after to make my way back down the trail. 

I continued my short hike for the day down to Wayah Bald Shelter, still early in the day there was one additional hiker in the shelter when I arrived. His name was Dozer. We talked for a few hours while cooking dinner and setting up camp for the night. Dozer hails from Asheville, just an hour from Fontana Dam. 

The sun sets around 6:30p still, hiker midnight comes early. No sooner did the sun go down, I was curled up in my sleeping bag and fast asleep. 








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