Trail Letter 6: 4/3, 4/4, and 4/5

Yesterday we did 11.7 miles into Erwin, TN. Good weather, and we crossed the Gap of Shame (where 2 of our buddies quot on day two of our 70 mile Erwin to Hot Springs trek) and had some moments of remembrance.

Bigfoot and I needed to resupply in Erwin, and Feezel had a mail drop coming to Uncle Johnny’s Hostel. The Feeze and I planned on rolling into town, taking care of business, then getting back on the trail. But Bigfoot decided he wanted a shower, laundry, and some “clean sheets” so he set his heart on the Super 8. I figured I’d help cut the cost (and get some shower, laundry, and internet), so I split a room with Bigfoot. The Feeze was going to continue, but two events changed his plan — his maildrop didn’t show, and his girlfriend Caitlin did show. So he got a room next to ours.

BF and I did our town business and crashed fro the night, waking up to…

4/4

..16.4 action-packed miles today. Feezel’s maildrop was still AWOL, so he and Caitlin dropped us off at the Trail and they went back to figure out what’s next.

It just so happened that Time Traveler and we started at the same time, so we hiked with her. After about 3 miles, Bigfoot left Time Traveler and myself in the dust in an attempt to outrace the oncoming torrential downpour. So I had about 5 miles to converse with TT. She’s 19 and from New York, doesn’t carry a sleeping pad or a tent, drinks unfiltered water from a 20 oz Mellow Yellow bottle, has dredlocks and giant (1.25″) earlobe-hole rings, and likes to sleep. We talked mostly about our Trail experiences thus far, and she’s hiked alone much more than I have.

Anyway, I got ahead of her for most of the last 8 miles, and I must say that hiking alone was quite the treat. Hopefully I’ll do a week or more by myself in the future — it’s very different.

After a tough climb today, there was a mile stretch through an amazing hemlock forest. When I came through, clouds were everywhere, so there was only “dark” sunlight, and there were also clouds on the mountain, so the forest was very misty. Instead of leaves covering the forest floor, there was the glowing-green moss and brown pine needles — truly a completely different environment from anything thus far. I couldn’t help but smile at the rarity I was experiencing. Worth a return trip someday.

At the shelter now are BF, me, Time Traveler, 2 high-schoolers, and a fun couple named “Hit” and “Miss”. They have a chickenwire pot stand I think I’ll copy, and they let me borrow it. “Miss” has a pleasant laugh — it’s nice to hear someone laugh as much as I do (even though mine is often caused by my delirium).

Bedtime, but still no Feezel. We’re guessing he stayed another night in Erwin with Caitlin, but who knows…?

4/5

21.7 cloudy & record-breaking miles today. The weather consisted of 100% humidity, or, us walking through clouds. No view today, despite climbing to over 6,300′.

With 21.7, Bigfoot and I set personal bests for mileage. The hike also consisted of the hardest uphill to date, due to slope and length. My body has been feeling much better, so it was good to test and stretch the limits. I haven’t moleskinned in 2 days… hoorray for the body’s ability to heal itself!

We’re staying at Overmountain Shelter — it’s an old barn that’s been converted into a shelter that sleeps at least 20 (most shelters sleep 6 – 10). There are 3 dogs, Tupperware, Burro, and Hit and Miss along with some weekenders (about eight) besides BF and a very tired and sleepy me.

We decided to race ahead of Feezel — we don’t know where he is, but we’ll wait in Damascus for him (about 85 miles away) if he doesn’t catch up…

Yawn.