Email: Your Band is falling apart

When I got to Hot Springs, NC I thoroughly enjoyed a breakfast of grapes, an orange, some chocolate mini donuts, and a chocolate milk. I sat at a picnic table for most of the day soaking in the sun and chatting with other thru-hikers while my group was running their errands and getting organized.

We later decided to simply cross the river and pitch our tents for free so that we could walk back to town and enjoy an evening in the pub with some live music and chat about how everything was going.

And the next day…our group began to slip apart.

Fievel decided to take the next 3 days off to rest up her knee (which was a very wise decision on her part). She was then going to grab a shuttle to Erwin, TN and meet up with us there to continue hiking. Beaker decided to go back into town with Fievel to run some errands as well, so Ringo and I headed out on the trail hoping for an 18 mile day. It was during this day that the amazing “Fal and Hercules” trail magic occurred, so we were not 100% sure we would make it to the shelter, but we did. Beaker showed up later that evening having to hike in the dark for a few hours because he chose to stay in town a little longer then planned.

The next morning was a scary/steep hike right away from the shelter. When we got to the top there was a side trail to go to the fire tower. Now usually fire towers are worth the extra little hike because the reward is usually amazing panoramic views. However, a group of us hiked up to this particular fire tower and found it trashed and encompassed with crazy barbed wire, so there were no pretty views to be had. Not a great way to start the day.

"Beans" trying to get up the fire tower surrounded with barbed wire

The rest of the day was spent hiking along the ridge line with plenty of fun places to stop.

Ringo, Beaker, Cicada, and I...the camera started tilting....so we followed it.

Me at the cliffs (2 days outside of Hot Springs, NC)

Ringo and Cicada being silly...go figure.

me and the boys - another cliff lookout. We hiked for 3 hours along the ridge line on this day, so there were many necessary breaks to enjoy the views

"High Rocks" elevation 4280 at summit

We hit our 300 mile mark and also climbed “Big Butt” Mt. It was very anti-climatic. About 18 thru-hikers stopped at the same shelter and had a nice lunch break in the sunshine.

Because there were so many of us thru-hikers at the same pace for a while, the next shelter that we were planning on staying in was already full. Since it was only 3:00 and we were gonna have to put up our tents, we decided to keep hiking for a while. 30 minutes later…it started to rain. So for the next 8 miles…it was raining. And miserable. I would have to say it was the most miserable I had felt on the trail so far. I finally made it to the next shelter 20-40 minutes before everyone else, walked WAY TOO FAR to filter some water for dinner…and felt better once I had dry clothes and a hot meal. Ringo on the other hand was not feeling 100% and got sick during the night. The next morning he decided he was going to just take it slow, but after a few miles ended up hitching to Erwin and taking a week off from the trail. (He joined us again with Kristin.)

The rest of the day for myself was pretty good. I stopped at a shelter for lunch and a hiker had a fire going so I was able to dry my gear from the downpour I walked in the day before. There was an awesome view from “High Peaks” where I stopped and had a snack, and then a relaxing hike to the next shelter where I chatted with a group who was out for just the weekend. There was also an adorable dog named “Fuego”  who I felt was protecting me from the bears. However, when Beaker showed up at the shelter a little later, he said all he wanted was some gatorade, a bathroom, and to go to bed. He was not looking well. So all-in-all, our group was not doing too well on the trail between Hot Springs and Erwin. It was only 6 miles on the last day to get to Erwin, so Beaker and I got there early enough to shower, do laundry, and head to town with Cicada and Curry where Fievel met up with us later.

Our crazy Erwin adventures included going to see “The Hunger Games”, eating at an AYCE (all you can eat) pizza/salad buffet, getting some rides from people all over town, buying a shirt for 50 cents at a thrift store, and watching “The Sandlot” back at the hostel with a bunch of other hikers. We also ended up eating all of Ringo’s snack food that his mother sent to him and he no longer needed since he went home sick. It was a good day of rest and relaxation that was much needed.

-Sketch