From the Trail

So, we decided to wait until 10am for the Hot Springs, NC public library to open and have be graciously allowed internet access. Ever since we got out from that ridiculously steep taxi ride up Springer mountain this trip has been epic. We meet new interesting people every night and each piece of trail has its own interesting an unique vibe. We started with Matt and Dan from UVA and NoVa Community College, who bussed with us all the way from DC to Gainesville. The anticipation was insane. Night one we met a Southbounder (thruhiker) about 16 miles from his goal. I remarked that it was near his finish and our start and we reflected on that. He told us stories of hitching in Lexus', getting free beer from the governor of Vermont, barebacking a horse and breaking his arm in VA, aquablazing the Shenandoah River, and his true love of Maine. He was a scraggly mid-20's from Bristol, TN. There was also a guy going 2 mpd on his thru and a couple mid-lifers out for a week. Night 2 we camped out in peace. night 3 was boy scouts and a few more prospective thru's from Asheville,NC and Boston Mass. Boston goes to Georgetown, we have not seen him since that night at Tray Mountain shelter. From that night for the next 5 days, we got rain. The next night we chilled with Boys Scouts with a dense southern drawl from Georgia. Then there were the atlanta yuppies who complained of our dank odor (passive aggressively of course). the next night we spent with NC state students one of whom was shaking down for a thru (testing the waters). Then was NOC, the super touristy outdoors center which was, as chris says "move em in, move em out". Fortunately we got a hitch with some Noc workers to Bryson City, NC. We hit up Ingles grocery and stood outside with signs for a hitch back to our hostel at NOC. Kind hearted Katie gave a an epic meal at First Baptist and let us in to watch their hilarious children's choir. John C., a Gulf War vet and survivor of a 3 month coma told us of his impressive kill count over there and about his views of our wars. He also offered for us to come back and "slay walleye" in his houseboat. We moved on then to Brown Fork Gap, where we chilled with a Canadian and a guy from Lansdowne High in MD. he was walking to his gf's in Charleston, DubV. These guys were out to mosey on down the trail slowly. We put in a epic 24 miler into the Smokies, and passed the East Coast's largest dam, Fontana. the next day we got out on some awesome bald mountains and spent the night with some weekenders from Winn, Our-Kansas. Then came the night of bears, where Chris' poles were chewed up and some water bottles were taken. We then camped out with Camel and Fungae (also thru's) and went to the shelter with them. Now we've gotten to Hot Springs and our enjoying this quaint 600 person town. We are avg. 19.4 miles per day and our 32 miles behind pace to get up to Katahdin by Aug27. But the miles will come with time. Best wildlife experiences: The turkeys that are really territorial, the rattlesnake I almost stepped on, the deer with no fear, and all these damn gnats and skeeters which have painted my body with red dots, and of course the 4 bears ive seen (chris has only caught 2).Best views: Wayah Bald stone tower, Max Patch Bald. I must say this hiking thing is tough, but really rewarding. There is so must to see in one 20 mile day. To abandon technology, warm beds, cars; it is actually incredibly liberating. Life becomes focused on the here-and-now of the trail. From rock to rock, mountain to mountain. Moving weight and topping rocks: thats what this summer is all about.

Best wishes to everybody back home and up in Canada. I do not envy your beds or your cars but I do miss your company. Keep it real. moving north: Jack.

*Side note: If anyone, i mean anyone, wants to come meet, hike with, feed, bathe, house, or entertain us, we would be the most gracious people you have ever met. It would be an amazing time for everybody. Upcoming sections: NE Tennessee, Damascus Va, Daleville Va, Waynesboro, Va. Call and leave a message at 443-603-2585