Day 17: April 7, 2021 (6.7 miles)

Wesser Bald Fire Tower - NOC

Today has been one of my favorite days. Between this and the Budget Inn this has been the favorite day. We watched the sunrise at Wesser Bald fire tower and it was beautiful!

Kayla and I enjoying the sunrise from the comfort of our sleeping bags

Getting up at sunrise meant that the day was easy to start and we got some beautiful views! Coming down the gorge was crazy and we had some gnarly views.

View from Wesser Bald Fire Tower in the early morning hours looking down into the Nantahala gorge

The descent took forever but we finally made it down to the NOC. We all took our hiking clothes off and got in the river in our bras and undies. Our underwear straight up looked like bathing suits so it wasn’t too bad. We got lunch at the Rivers Edge restaurant and I got a delicious chicken sandwich.

Hiker trash posted up on the river bank outside of the NOC

We hung out after lunch at the river for literal hours just drinking beers and watching the river.

Relaxing by the river after a long and leisurely day

I honestly got super drunk and that’s where I’ve been at baseline. We did laundry and got some trail magic beers from some guys from Asheville. We played some drinking games and just had a good time.

Wearing my Frog Toggs so that I could wash all my other clothing. I split the crotch seem after a couple days on trail and was able to patch it with Duct Tape

Tomorrow is going to suck and I am avoiding it. Drunk Anna out.

Even while intoxicated, I was determined to journal nightly. This was my drunken handwriting from 4/7/21