Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Shelter

APRIL 16, 2012

Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Shelter - Strenuous
11 miles in 7 hours

After a good night’s sleep at Sapphire Inn, we were ready to go again.  We walked over to McDonald’s for breakfast and got extra to eat later on the trail.  We were packed up and ready for the return shuttle to Winding Stair Gap before 9:00.  Unfortunately, our shuttle driver was not so ready.  It was 9:45 before we were on the trail and ready to start our day’s hike. 

On the ride to the gap we met two interesting men, Clyde and Nightwalker.  Nightwalker has been commissioned by the Appalachian Trail Conversancy to update the AT distances.  He had 7 or 8 pounds of equipment in his pack.  They started at Springer Mountain in early April and it was our privilege to coincide with them on this part of the trip.  We leapfrogged with them to the NOC but lost them when they decided to slackpack backwards from Stecoah Gap. 

The walk through Swinging Lick Gap and Panther Gap was pretty pleasant; several times the trail went right down the middle of a stream. 

Swinging "Lick" Gap, Elevation 4100'

Panther Gap, Elevation 4480'

Suddenly at the top of a hill, we came to a wide open clearing which looked like an excellent place to sit in the grass and take a break.  Going off to the north of us was a grassy knoll with a trail running the length of it leading to the top of Siler Bald.  I understand it is a very popular hike for locals to come for the magnificent view from Siler Bald.  In fact, we hiked part of the way up with a gentleman who was doing a day hike to Siler Bald.  However, we did not feel that we had the energy to make the extra distance to the bald, so after our break, we continued following the white blazes of the AT. 

Our hiking buddy going up to Siler Bald.

Siler Bald

Wayah Gap, Elevation 4180'

From an elevation of 4600’ we dipped back down to 4180’ in Wayah Gap, then had a strenuous climb back up to 5342’ at Wayah Bald.  I have often said the AT wouldn’t be so bad if it were not for the gaps – they always go down, then you have to go back up to where you started from.

We met a young man named Josh and his female friend thru-hiking together.  They had started hiking on April Fool's Day at Springer Mountain.  We saw them frequently along the trail although they seemed to get a late start each day and hiked until bed time usually.

A frequently seen sign at the gaps on the highways.

We passed Qwyatt on the trail and chatted with him for awhile.  We found out that he had stayed at Saphhire Inn last night with his wife; he saw us walking back from McDonald’s this morning when they left.  So he got an earlier start than us. We asked about his destination for the day and he said as long as he could find two trees close enough together, he could stop anywhere and hang his hammock; he usually doesn’t try to make it to a shelter.  We warned him of the storm which had been forcast for the night and he said he didn’t worry, he had a cover.  That’s the last time we saw Qwyatt, we wish him well.  He was a very nice man.

The paved road leading up to Wayah Bald Fire Tower.

Before seeing the stone tower at the top of the bald, we came upon a paved road leading up to it.  Evidently there is a parking lot close by so folks can drive up almost to the tower.  The old stone fire tower was built in 1937 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  Signs at the top of the tower point indicate that you are looking at Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and south into Georgia.  The views from this vantage point are fabulous.



Wayah Bald Fire Tower, Elevation 5342'

View from the fire tower.

Plague on Wayah Bald Fire Tower.

View from the top of the fire tower.

Overlooking the paved area at the bottom of the fire tower. 
Our hiking buddies, including Josh and friend on the right and Alabama in the middle.
Three other young men were dayhikers on the Bartram Trail.

View from the top of the fire tower.

Us at the top of the fire tower.

Another view from the top of the tower.

We went on past the tower to the Wayah Shelter, expecting a thunderstorm the night. The shelter was full and we saw only one level campsite which was already taken. We first met Alabama here when he left the full shelter to go on up the trail.  You could tell he was from Alabama; besides the Roll Tide hat and shirt, he also had a very definate Alabama accent. 

For the first time, we had to use our insect repellant - I sure was glad we had some - the mosquitos were terrible.  We pitched our tent on a slope and built a makeshift barrier of sorts out of logs to try to divert some of the water should it rain during the night. We were fortunate that night though and no rain came. Our only problem was trying to keep from sliding downhill on our slippery air mattress and sleeping bag.