Day 32. Near Disaster.

This morning I left the Hemlock Hollow Hostel after a good nights sleep. The climb out of the hollow was steep. The trail soon brought me to a rock scramble across an exposed ridge line for over one mile. The trek was strenuous to say the least, but the views were worth every drop of sweat. There were at least two sections were I had to remove my pack and throw it off a rock outcrop just so I could get down safely.

The trail passes over Big Butt Mountain where I saw the Shelton Grave site. It was an ominous site, three lone head stones facing each other on a grassy flat off the trail. On July 1, 1863 the three family members including Millard Haire, age 13 was gunned down by confederate soldiers at their Laurel home. The Shelton's were Union Soldiers sent to recruit locals for the North. Every year on July 1, there is a memorial service held here for the slain.

After hiking 16 miles, I arrived at the a Flint Mountain Shelter around 1830. The weather was cool and clouds were visible. By 1930 I was in my sleeping bag. At 0030 I was woken up by the cold feeling of snow blowing across my face. I soon realized that my sleeping bag and the inside of the shelter was covered by one inch of snow. I made a quick decision to spread out my tent shell and climb into it to act as a bivi cover. I would soon realize this could have been a fatal mistake. Throughout the night, the tent acted as an insulator. However did not breath properly causing a deep build up of condensation ultimately soaking every inch of my down sleeping bag and clothes. The temps dropped to the teens. I would lay shivering the remainder of the night hoping my body heat would warm the wetness. By day break, I was a mess...

I recognized the signs and symptoms of First Stage Hypothermia have set in, nearing stage two. Severe dehydration, weakness, headache, poor decision making, aching bones and stiffness. I had a hard time packing my gear. My hands and fingers were stinging numb. Once I gathered my gear, I started the 2.9 mile hike in the snow to Devils Fork Gap. I knew there was a road there and may be able to seek help.

Yesterday, Rash and Collin, slack packed this section and would arrive by shuttle to Devils Gap Fork by the folks at Hemlock Hollow. I made several desperate phone calls to the hostel. The hostel owner said her son would soon be there with Rash and Collin. Approximately one mile from the Gap. I was met by Rash and Collin. They rushed to my assistance. Rash carried my pack to the Gap and Collin brought me water. I was never so happy to see them and so very grateful. I was extremely weak and thought about resting on the trail. But I knew that would be bad so I persisted on. I was given a ride back to the Hemlock Hollow were the owners helped me and offered medical services. I declined and insisted on just sleeping in a warm bed. I slept most of the day, it is now 1900. I plan to stay here tomorrow night also to be sure everything is ok with me.
I still feel very nauseous.

There is no cell service here. Only wifi in the front office, a ways away from the bunkhouse.

So far I have hiked 309.5 miles....

Day 31. Hot Springs to the Hemlock Hollow Hostel

I left Hot Springs in the morning with How Bout. I hated to leave. Hot Springs is an extremely hiker friendly town. The towns people all extended a helping and in one form or another. It's nice to see there are people in this world willing to go above and beyond for a stranger. It touched me in many ways and forced me to examine how I treat strangers. Sadly there was no comparison.

The climb out was nice crossing over a rock outcrop called Lovers Leap. You can see the small town fading in he distance.

During the trek I passed a small pond with a dam. It was used many years ago for a near by tobacco factory. It was very serene and calming to me. The water was still and clear.

I scaled the Rich Mountain Fire Tower for additional views. Ironically, there was a cell tower within feet of it however no signal. The views were nice. Since the start of my journey, I have tried to take all the extra side trails that lead to something appealing such as the fire tower.

I saw my first sign of spring today, a small non venomous snake slithering across the trail. A good sign for warmer weather.

Today I hiked 16.3 miles to the Hemlock Hollow shelter. A nice family run business in Greene County Tennessee. I tented next to a stream and had a wonderful nights sleep.

So far I have hiked 290.2 miles!!!

Day 30. Zero Day Hot Springs

On Day 30 I moved from Elmer's Sunny Bank Inn to The Laughing Heart Hostel for the night. I mainly resupplied and organized my gear during the day.

Update coming soon

I'm two days behind on updates...

I took a zero day in Hot Springs on Monday and left on Tuesday for Erwin Tennessee. I hiked 17 miles yesterday. I will be in the woods for the next 5 days... May not have service. I will post pictures when I can... Thanks for following my adventure...

Day 29. Hot Springs, NC

Well I probably had the best night sleep so far sleeping near that creek... I was out like a light. The sound of the running creek water and the Hoot Owls knocked me out. I woke up at 0500, packed up my gear and had a Pop Tart breakfast. How Bout and I hiked .7 miles to the summit of Max Patch Bald and waited for the sun to rise over the mountains. The Bald was dark and windy but soon to be worth the effort. The sun tried desperately to break through the clouds. It's reflection cast an eerie blue haze across the horizon. It was truly amazing!!! It almost felt like I was standing on the moon. I watched the sun rise until 0730 and hated to leave...

We continued our hike 2.5 miles to the Roaring Fork Shelter where we had a snack with a Boy Scout Troop from Hickory NC. The boys looked to be having fun. Some on their very first night in the woods. I asked if any saw Bigfoot last night... LOL. When I left the shelter, I reminisced when I was a Boy Scout. I loved the adventure involved, the hiking and camping out, and of course summer camp. I was first introduced to the Appalachian Trail when I was a Police Explorer at the age of 14. A local policeman and friend would take me on weekend trips on the trail. I thought it was the coolest thing at that time. I have been interested ever since and have finally acted on a dream some 33 years later. Thank you Louie...

When I hit Lemon Gap at 6.1 miles, my right knee was killing me and severely swollen. It was difficult to walk. I hitched a ride by the only vehicle that drove by on that dirt forest road. A paramedic from Tennessee happen to be on a Sunday drive and gave How Bout and I a ride to Hot Springs. I missed 13 miles of trail... To avoid further damage.

I checked into Elmer's Sunny Bank Inn, a 150 year old Victorian home. Elmer is iconic to the Appalachian Trail, taking in hikers since 1977. The home is eclectic and a bit spooky with the antiques, candle lit hall ways and adjoining rooms. Elmer claims the ghost of Jane Gentry (song writer) has been seen many times in Room #4. I am in #2... Thank God. Elmer serves a family style vegetarian dinner ever night to hikers. Everyone gathers around the table as Elmer tells the history of his home. It is a very warm and welcoming place. It's awesome for a man to open his home to strangers everyday for the past 36 years.

Before dinner I went to the Hot Springs outdoor spa to soak my battered body and feet. The Spring water is natural to the area. It was awesome and well deserved after walking 273.9 miles. After the spa I went to the local outfitter shop to buy more comfortable boot inserts to help my feet and knees. While I was in there I almost bought a men's kilt to hike in. It was very comfortable and airy but just didn't seem right for me... Lol.

Today I only hiked 6.1 miles, but arrived in Hot Springs.

So far I have hiked 273.9 miles. It's not about the miles, it's about the smiles...

Day 28. Standing Bear Farm to Max Patch

I had an excellent nights sleep at the Standing Bear Farm Hostel. Thanks to the owner Curtis and his crew Rocket Man and Hawk for the warm hospitality. Curtis tried to convince me that he purchased the log from the movie Deliverance that Ned Beatty came to know. He told me he paid $1500 on eBay... I almost believed him!! LOL.

In the morning while I was packing my gear, a fat grey squirrel visited the front porch of my cabin. He was overly friendly... Feeling sorry for him, I broke off a small piece of protein bar to give the little guy. I extended my hand with generosity and the little bastard immediately leaped from the porch rail onto my arm. He missed the protein bar and sunk his dirty little teeth into my hand!!! He actually drew blood!!! He would not leave me alone... I now officially hate squirrels!! LOL.

The climb out of Standing Bear was tough, mostly uphill with steep switch backs. This was a test of endurance today. The climb brought How Bout and I to the summit of Snowbird Mountain. It is a grassy bald. From the summit, the visibility was 100 + miles. We stared in amazement viewing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the distance. We could see most of the mountain range through the park. It was a great feeling knowing we hiked the 73 miles through the Smoky's and it was now behind us in the distance.

Yesterday How Bout received his two drop boxes that he missed in Fontana. So today his pack was extra heavy with goodies his wife and mother sent him. He let me know several times throughout the day just how heavy it was. Being the good friend I am, I sunk up behind him and added rocks one by one to his Crock shoes that were strapped to his pack!!!! LOL. He was exhausted at the end of the day...

We stopped at Groundhog Creek Shelter for lunch. There we met two section hikers from Knoxville out for the weekend. I had How Bout take a photo of me at the shelter. I am loosing weight daily. My shorts have been falling down so i fashioned a belt out of para cord... hillbilly style! After two peanut butter and jelly tortilla sandwiches, we hit the trail. We decided to push on to Max Patch Road which is .7 miles from the summit of the famous Max Patch Bald. The plan is to pack up before dawn, reach the summit and watch the sunrise over the Bald. Hopefully get a few nice photos. We set up camp next to a babbling stream under a thick canopy of Rhododendrons. The sound of the creek will either help me sleep soundly or make me get up to pee countless times tonight...

Side Note: I have become very interested in the "Indian Marker" trees. Along the trail, I have seen quite a few and photographed all of them. The Cherokee Indians used these trees as markers for trails, water, direction and some researchers believe hidden gold. The tree is also called an "Indian Thong Tree". The Cherokees would bend saplings of the tree and fasten it with strips of animal hyde called "Thongs". If you look closely at the base of the bent limb, many still have scars where the thongs were fastened to the trunk. Researchers estimate these tress to be 150 - 200 years old. Each time I see one, I stop and wonder what it was used for and try to visualize the Native American bending that very sapling. To me it's intriguing.

Today I hiked 12.6 miles mostly uphill. I was reminded of the song by Hanna Montana, "The Climb". It pretty much paraphrases today's uphill battles and my life in general.

So far I have hiked 253.4 miles on the Appalachian Trail and many more off the trail...