Today is a crazy 5.5m down to the Nantahata Outdoor Centre (NOC) located on the trail, a huge outdoor centre for white water rafting and hiking; then an equally insane 5.5m uphill. It is only later that we find out that NO ONE does this in one day, except of course for Eveready and Unhinged. We are just walking machines. Good thing the map we have doesn't show exactly how tough this is! But the lunch (Sherpa rice and a huge burger) at NOC gives us a little reprieve. There was distraction though in the beautiful spring flowers that are poking through as we descend into the valley. As I'm a flower freak you will all need to endure these pictures as the flowers app

We start out from NOC and a relentless 3.5 hours of climbing brings us to Sassafras Gap Shelter, where we camp just off the trail, it has started to rain. Our friend Slip, aptly named just tonight,as he went down to the shelter with his dinner and slipped on the muddy path leaving half the chicken and rice there for critters to enjoy. Slip offered to made the trek down to the stream with our water bottles, we are so grateful. We are hunkered inside my tent with the stove fired up in the vestibule. It is pouring. Slip comes by and offers to hang our food bags with his on a bear line he has strung. Now we love him!! The rain is not quitting, we are waiting for a lull so we can pee. It is dark now and time to sleep. 

The total change was 5000 ft!