Tue 21 Sep - Stecoah Gap

Foggy and cool at dawn becoming hot and humid.  High 88.

We hiked 13.6 miles from Stecoah Gap back south over Cheoah Bald to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC).  My blisters and toenails did OK and so did Wendy's knee.  So tomorrow we resume north from Stecoah Gap to Fontana Dam.

Acorns are raining down from the oaks and in some places leaving a collection of little brown ball bearings on the trail.

We saw a snake on the trail.  Wendy passed it first and took some pictures.  She thought it might be dead.  But she walked around it and kept hiking.   I took some pictures too and confirmed it was alive - it hardly moved or responded.   I think it was a timber  rattlesnake but it was yellowish - maybe because it had just shed it's skin.