Day 12-3/22-Nantahala Outdoor Center-Zero Miles

I hitched a couple rides to get back to the NOC from Bryson City in the morning, and Squatch, Loophole, and Sleeping Beauty were in around 11. When I had seen them yesterday they had talked about a Zero Day and rafting. I had agreed to join. I broke the tip of one of my trekking poles yesterday and wanted to make some other gear adjustments at the outfitter. My convertible pants were out and two pairs of light running shorts were in. I also purchased a map of the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness Area, the first such map I had been able to find. As one of the last old growth forests in the east, with an interesting story as to how it was able to remain such, it has been an area I have wanted to visit for quite some time. But with a reputation for being quite wild and no reliable information on trails or water sources I have not yet explored it. Finally, some new tips were in order. It was quite the ordeal to get the broken tips removed, involving more than one phone call with the manufacturer. Howard, a member of the NOC staff, finally volunteered to take my poles to his home for his lunch break where he had some more tools that might have been of assistance. They were, and I finally had a fully functional set of trekking poles. Clutch.

I boxed up the map and the gear I had replaced to send back to Rhiannon, and snuck into the extra bunk with the Three Muskateers. Loophole and Sleeping Beauty had taken advantage of the rafting while I had to deal with the pole issue. I wish I could have gone. A pint of Ben and Jerry's attempted to console me, and several beers succeeded. We loafed around all day as the rain came and went. We had dinner with my friend David, who I had met much earlier in the trip, and settled on a trail name of Whitewater for him. He is a lifelong kayaker and it seemed appropriate. Even with a nap before dinner, I was in bed early and anticipating the rain which was rumored to be strong tomorrow.