Day 32 (Wednesday, May 14th) - Cascade to mile 328.6 Whistling Gap

No Pants resting on Big Bald

Today's Miles: 18.50 
Trip Miles: 328.60

Yesterday a man had hiked through looking for two of his dogs that had gotten away from him. I guess they get confused by all the hiker scents on the trail and can't find their way home. He asked if we'd keep an eye out for them, that they had his phone number on their collars.

We started hiking about 8. I don't think it had anything to do with the lost dogs, but there were hounds baying last night for hours on end. Made for another restless night. I went out first, but M and N soon passed me.(I did take a side trail by accident for a while, D'OH!)

The dogs M and N found

I got to the Hogback Ridge Shelter about 10:30; there were Mike and Natalie, the the two dogs they had found, and one happy owner, Rodney, a local farmer. We ate with him. He said he had had Luke and Taylor at his home the night before and they were helping him look for the dogs. He offered us a place to stay or a ride into town, but we wanted to get some miles in. As we parted he said anything we needed between here and Virginia was on him, just call.

Further down the trail we bumped into No Pants. He's been hiking solo for a while. I think because he often stops to set up his camera for pics that it's hard to find someone hiking at his pace. About 4 miles on we met two women sitting on an open hillside who gave us oranges (which I had been craving all day), apples, chocolate, and hard boiled eggs. We chatted, thanked them and moved on toward Big Bald.

A bit windy

The bald was awesome and quite windy. We ate lunch and lazed, but not for too long because it  got chilly. No Pants caught up and sat for a bit before we moved on. We had hoped to do 20 miles, but we were getting tired and a storm was predicted for tonight, so after crossing Little Bald we decided to stay at Whistling Gap. No more camping up high in bad weather.

As we neared the gap we could see a fire; it was Andi and Yvanna, the German university students. We like talking with them and I think they enjoy the unusual English lessons we provide. A Boston
accent adds a little flavor to the mix.

M and N on Big Bald

We set up camp, talked, laughed, ate then headed to bed around 10 p.m. The rains came shortly after. Hoping to make Erwin tomorrow.

Goodnight.

No pants chillin' on Big Bald

Taking a break on Big Bald

From Big Bald

Little Bad

Andi and Yvanna

Rhododendron water spout

Rodney and his dogs