March 15. App Trail Update- Well I started hiking around 6am sat and completed the 18 miles by about 2:30. The last six miles were downhill which sounds easy, but when you are goinc from 5000ft to about 1700 you encounter some rocky terrain. Add the heavy rain and it made it challenging. Last night I stayed with chestnut and gentle ben. Chestnut has done four thru hikes and likes to do large mileage days. Gentle Ben is a retired GM for a car dealer and is anxious to get back out tomorrow with the rain gone. Nantahala is Cherokee for Land of the Noon Day Sun. I have a five mile climb out of here tomorrow.