What started into one zero has turned into five. Oops.
Delta and i planned to leave Hot Springs Monday morning and have three twenty something mile days into Gatlinburg where we’d get picked up to go to thanksgiving at Shuffles. We got up at 6am on Monday and were getting our stuff together to head out when Delta brought up the weather. Tuesdays forecast was for all day rain and in the 30s. Not hiking weather. More like hypothermia weather. If we headed out this morning we were basically committing to walk all day in the cold rain and then likely have our wet clothes freeze overnight and then have to walk 23 miles in the snow the next day.
So instead we decided we’d try to slack pack Monday and then take rainy Tuesday off. This meant we’d also have to take Wednesday off because that was the day we needed to be at a road so we could get picked up for thanksgiving. I wasn’t crazy about taking so much time off but it was more appealing, not to mention safer, than hiking in the 30s in rain. Now to find someone to drive us up to Max Patch, 20 miles away, so we could hike from there North to Hot Springs. We had to wait until 9am til the outfitter in town opened to call and see if they could drive. When we got a hold of them they said it’d be $55 which was more than we wanted. Then, miraculously, a group of college kids came into the hostel we were staying at and they just so happened to be hiking Max Patch and had extra room in their cars. So we got a free ride! They took me, Delta, and Afternoon Delight up to Max Patch, a beautiful bald mountain. We were lucky enough to have great views on this day. We had 20 miles back to Hot Springs, mostly downhill. It ended up being the easiest and most enjoyable twenty I’ve done. Time flew by and the hiking was even easier with just a daypack. I made great time, finishing in about 6 and a half hours including breaks and wasn’t even tired after. I could do this all downhill slack pack everyday!
The next two days I relaxed more than I ever have. I must have watched ten movies. That’s not an exaggeration. Delta and I hung out with AD and a guy Stripe who just finished his thru hike and was back in town. Crunchmaster and gospel, two other SOBOs also got to town and stayed at the hostel so we had a nice little group going. One highlight was enjoying Hot Springs’ hot springs with a bath at the spa. Delta, Stripe and i reserved an hour and relaxed in a hot tub filled with the hot spring water drinking beers.
It snowed about three inches overnight on Tuesday. I’d gone to bed at 3 the night before because I was up late watching movies so I was sleeping in the next day. I awoke being pelted by snowballs in my bed by a pack of boys. So much for sleeping in! Ha. Wolf Bird drove to Hot Springs on Tuesday evening and we had a wonderful reunion and had fun catching up and drinking beers and playing cards at the hostel.
On Wednesday we went and picked up Blondie and Cool Blue about an hour away from Hot Springs. They are about 60 miles behind me and delta on the trail. But they are both ready to be done and so they plan to do ten 30 mile days to get to springer. I think they’re crazy and will hurt themselves but they are pretty determined.
It was so great being reunited with so many people I hadn’t seen in many months. We were all making fun of each other like old times in a matter of minutes. The five of us drove about four and a half hours Wednesday afternoon to Shuffles house near Atlanta for thanksgiving. Shuffle finished the trail on Sunday!!! It was a miracle Wolf birds crappy car made it but we got there and had a great time. Shuffle and her family are so kind and cooked us so much food. They tripled recipes and got two 15 pound turkeys to feed our hungry hiker appetites.
After much eating and relaxation, we left Shuffles this morning (Friday). We are currently on our way to Asheville NC on a spontaneous trip to check out the town which is supposed to be awesome. I’ve wanted to visit here for a long time so I’m really excited. And a SOBO named junco who already finished lives in town so I think we have a free place to stay. It has been a very long break from hiking but it’s been great to see my hiker family and have a mental break. I’m excited to get back on trail though tomorrow (hopefully) and finish up these last 250 miles. It should be about two weeks til I finish. Wish me luck!