April 4, 2016 - Day 17

Bob, a man from the Frist Baptist Church choir, took the group back to the trail at the NOC (Nantahala Outdoor Center).  He gave them a card and inside was $100!  Everyone in Bryson City was super nice and wished them well on their journey.  Here are IWOX and Southpaw at the NOC.

There was a loonnnngggg uphill climb of 7 miles.  They were passed by many hikers.  When they got to the Sassafras Gap shelter, there was a white flag flying...a warning sign of a Norovirus outbreak.  They gave the shelter a wide berth and continued to Cheoah Bald.

Jill's Picture of Cheoah Bald

They could see Fontana Lake below them and the mountains all around.  Ken shot a nice video of the view.



They continued on to and arrived at Locust Cove Gap just in time, as they were out of water.  The shelter and campsites were full, so they set up camp at a nice flat spot a little further down the trail.

Mile 146.3
Elevation 3,690