Departed Hot Springs after a zero day there with Flash, Nokey, Barefoot and Gypsie soul. Nokey, Muck and the girls (barefoot/gypsie) had been there for 4 days due to barefoot falling ill. Since she wasn't totally up to par, we only planned a 5 mile easy hike to a pond with a campsite. By the time we reached our destination barefoot wasn't looking very well. Luckily Chuck Norris, the owner of the hostel in Hot Springs, had offered to pick her up anywhere if she didn't feel well. Nokey called and he was there within minutes at a dirt road just above the campsite. Such a great and caring guy! To any reading this on trail journals, be sure to stay at the laughing heart hostel at the foot of the trail.
We met and camped with stingray, steady, F-100 and glogg. The temps dropped into the low 30's that night and I shivered in my 40° bag. This would be the start of my regret of switching out my colder 10° bag.
The next day we did a 15 mile trek ending with a nice climb that froze my troublesome knee in the final stretch. Sheltered this night with the same group as well as Secrets and Shenanigans.
The next day was Sooooo effin Cold. I barely slept that night as froze my ass off in temps of the upper 20's. I wore everything i had including rain gear. We all waited to slowly crawl out from the insides of our sleeping bags. It was a very lethargic morning and a late 10:30 departure. It was so windy for the first couple hours! By the time we peaked Big Firescald knob the sun was out and the wind had abated. However, the knee was trying to lock up again. We relaxed in the sun and ate lunch up there as i waited for a 800 mg ibuproferen to take action.
Everything went well till the next shelter when it acted up again. However, it was late (too late to push for the next one) AND this place had tarps covering the front with a built in fireplace. After the past freezing evenings the idea of warmth kept us all there. Joining us was a couple from Germany Fredrica and Sebastion. We would travel with them till Erwin from this point on, very cool people to be around!
We pushed for 15 miles the next day. Gorgeous weather and all went well for most of the day. I changed my hiking style to a slower pace and shorter stride. The last 2 miles got rough. I said F U knee and pushed it through. Instead of hobbling and babying it I made it move full motion (doc said I couldn't damage it) and man it hurt for a while, almost made me puke. Yet, it eventually gave in and worked with a mild ache.
We hiked a couple miles into Sams gap early the next morning and hitched a ride to a cafe for breakfast. We resupplied at a market/gas station and hitched back to find trail angels giving out food and drinks. For those not familiar, trail angels are hikers and exthru-hikers that show up at crossings and such with food, drinks and snacks for section and thru-hikers. Always a very welcome sight!
The rest of the day was a long fantastic hike! We ended at No Business shelter at about 9:30 pm for 20.7 miles and had a short 5 miles into the hiker hostel on the Nolichucky river the following morning.
Jason Clark, my long time buddy from highschool, picked us up and took is into Johnson city. Him and his better half Mary lou have a gorgeous house they're restoring. We were so kindly treated to dinner by them at a Poblanos. Yours truly had two fishbowl sized margaritas and meal that was ginormous (see picture) and came back in a box.
We were supposed to hit the trail the next day, but we slept in and got a late start into town for resupply. Jason took us to a fantastic burger joint and we finally agreed out loud to take a zero day. We hit the movies (Hunger games) and were treated by our hosts to a spaghetti and salad dinner which incorporated fresh ramps (wild onions) that I picked along the trail. The remainder of the evening was filled with laughs, tv and good ole Ben n Jerrys icecream. Nokey ate 2 pints to himself, it was impressive.
Today was a late start and a short 5 miles to the first shelter. We'll wait out tonights rain storm here with shenanigans and secrets as they came in late from a zero as well. Gonna be raining all day tomorrow. Shooting for a 22 mile stretch, maybe 13 if the rain is really bad.
All for now :-)
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