I stayed in a cabin last night. So I was warm for once. Got up, ate breakfast, did laundry, knocked out some work items, checked the weather forecast, and mapped out the next few days of my trek. Starting at Laughing Heart Hostel and camping at a hostel in Erwin, TN.
I got a lift back to the hostel. I saw City entering the hostel. I met him a week or so ago just north of New Found Gap at a shelter when it snowed. I resupplied at the Dollar Store in town and walked through downtown Hot Springs. The AT actually goes right through town.
I saw Hungry Man standing on the corner. I met him the morning after myself, CoCoa and Luke spent the night in the bathroom on New Found Gap. He said he hiked with them for several days. They were knocking out 25 mile days. He said Luke is now known as Half Plate. He got his name after a long day of hiking. He kept saying how hungry he was and how much he was going to eat. He ordered his first plate of food and only finished half of it. So they dubbed him Half Plate. We parted ways saying we’d see each other up the trail.
Next I passed the father and 3 son team. They were talking with a few other people. We said hello and I told them I had a trail name for them. Every night I camped with them they had an amazing fire blazing. So I told them they should be called The Inferno Family. And each one of them could have fire names. Like Flame, Torch, etc. They all laughed and said the name was great! Whether or not they accepted it I’m not sure. We parted ways.
It was beautiful day. The sun was shining. It was in the 70s. I crossed a long bridge which transported me onto the other side of the French Broad River. I took several photos. The river was amazing. I passed an older hiker who greeted me. His name was Pops. He was heading into town and I was headed out so we just hello and went on our ways.
After you cross the bridge the AT follows alongside the river for a while. I came upon a guy painting on an easel. He was painting some of the rock formations and the river as well. I admired his work and chatted for a few minutes. He said he does this every once in awhile to get out of his studio. Pretty cool. I continued up the trail. There were quite a few people tenting alongside the river. What great camp sites I thought.
I began my climb up the mountain. Lizards were scurrying around the trail, birds were singing, things were starting to come alive finally. I made it up to an amazing view. Two lovers were there. I asked them if this was Lovers Leap and they said it was. It’s a beautiful view looking down on the French Broad River and mountains in the distance. I took some pics and continued my trek up the mountain.
I passed another thru hiker called Crazy Horse. We chatted briefly about the trail and the weather. He said there was a big thunderstorm coming through later that night…100% chance. I said that’s not what I saw when I checked this morning. He did you might want to check again. So I did. He was right. When I checked the weather this morning I took a screen shot of it. I typically do this to capture the forecast for the week. When I checked my screen shot it said Erwin, NC. I was going to be in Erwin, TN. Shoot!
The AT crosses TN and NC back and forth for miles. You really never know which state you’re in. Rain is one thing, thunder and lighting is another. Especially when the temps are going to drop down below freezing. I called the Hostel to change my booking from a tent site to a bunk and confirmed a pick up time from the trail later in the evening.
I continued on my way. I came to a small pond with a wooden bench. On the bench was trail magic! Two beers just sitting there. I grabbed one and left the other for the next hiker. I put it in my bag as it was warm from sitting outside for awhile. I figured I’d have it later. I hiked a few more miles and to my surprise trail magic 2! Someone left a few six packs under some bushes. I noticed how they left both Coke and Pepsi. Knowing that folks hiking the AT come from both the north and the south, I thought that was thoughtful ? I downed a Coke and continued on.
I spent a bit of time enjoying Hot Springs, the French Broad River, and Lovers Leap, and I wanted to get to the hostel before the weather took a turn for the worse. But there was an old fire tower on top of the mountain, just off the trail a ways, I wanted to check out. I arrived a few minutes later and climbed up it. I’m glad I did. More amazing views. I could see the storm clouds coming too. I quickly clambered down the metal steps and back to the trail.
I passed a shelter where Crazy Horse, Giggles and Sky Bird had stopped for a break. We chatted briefly about the weather, getting out of it, and I continued down the path. It was getting dark by the time I made it to the pick up spot off an old dirt road. I could see lights from an old pick up truck. It was my ride. I hopped in.
When we got back to the hostel I went into the main office area to pay for the night. I saw a lady on the back porch glued to her phone. I whttps://fundraise.showhope.org/as exhausted and didn’t pay much attention to her as I didn’t recognize her. We settled up and the hostel owner walked me back to the bunk house. It was dark so I couldn’t see anything. But I could hear creeks rushing all around us. It sounded really relaxing. I asked if anyone else was in the bunk house. She said there was an older gentlemen in there. I asked if she knew his name. She said, “I think it’s Trigger”. “Trigger?” I said!? “I know Trigger! He’s awesome!” I said, “is Cushy here too!?” She said, “she is. She’s in a private cabin.” I laughed and said, “of course she is.” ?
We walked in the bunk house and the lights were still on. I said “hello Trigger.” He sat up and smiled and said “hello Wolverine. It’s nice to see you.” We sat up and talked for an hour or so while I cooked dinner and ate. He told me they barely made it off Clingmans Dome that night we got separated in the blizzard. He said they caught a ride from a family that was literally pulling out as they got to the bottom of the mountain. They got a free ride into Gatlinburg and stayed there for the evening. We talked about where they had been staying since then as well. We just kept missing each other by a few miles in some cases.
I could hear the sounds of the waterfalls outside the cabin as I fell asleep that night. Later that night the rain pounded down on the metal roof that covered us. That was the first night I slept in a bunk house. It was with someone I knew though— not a bunch of strangers. So I’m not sure I got the full experience of sleeping in a hostel that night. I’m sure I would soon though.
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