Date: 2018-04-02
From: Tanyard Gap - Hot Springs

To: Log Cabin Road - Hemlcok Hollow Inn
Miles today: 10.5
Weather: overcast clouds

We kicked the day off with some breakfast burritos. It was a fitting end to a food-filled weekend. Patrick got on the road shortly after breakfast and we were close behind. Irene and Lisa dropped us by the Post Office before hauling us up to Tanyard Gap, where we would resume our hike. It was about 10:45 when we said our goodbyes and entered the brown forest. The trail was gentle under our feet and our initial ascent was mild. Nonetheless, with full packs and stuffed bellies, we struggled to find our stride. There were signs of life amidst the tall grey trees and brown undergrowth. A cluster of tiny purple or white flowers would occasionally appear. Squirrels and chipmunks were busy digging up hickory nuts and pecans they had stored before winter. Sounds of birds chirping and woodpeckers jack-hammering against hollowed trees rang through the air. When we stopped to stretch, a hiker from Wyoming named Cowboy came by. We would leap frog with him several times before leaving him at Spring Mtn. Shelter, where we stopped for lunch. A couple of other hikers dropped by and we successfully transferred some excess Easter candy and leftover cookies from our packs to their bellies. One of the hikers was named Slider. She carried a plastic trombone in a case strapped to her pack. Slider mentioned that the chocolate chip cookies tasted like the ones that came with a big box of leftover Easter Dinner that arrived at the Laughing Heart Hostel the night before. Another hiker agreed. That would be the box that we dropped off last night. Irene and Lisa: your Trail Magic lore lives on. We also saw Life Alert. The last time we saw her was on a cold night at Sassafrass Shelter. She had major gear issues, leaving her quite cold that night. Evidently she got all of her issues resolved and is doing much better. I was happy to see that she had persevered and was doing finding her stride.Although the hike was not too difficult by AT standards, Which Way¢s knee was hurting again when going downhill. She changed out of her hiking shoes to her trail running shoes at Hot Springs, so that may be the issue. She is going to switch inserts tomorrow to see if that helps. To make matters worse, her shoulder was bothering her under the weight of a heavy pack. We decided to exit the trail at Log Cabin Road and stay at the Hemlock Hollow Inn¢a place a couple of miles east (in Tennessee) that offered a bunkhouse and cabins. We had called ahead from Spring Mtn. Shelter (about five miles out) and set up a free shuttle from the gravel road to Hemlock Hollow. A couple of miles out, WW was really struggling, holding back tears from the pain, and I realized we would not make the pick-up time at the pace we had slowed to. There was no cell service or any other way to contact the Hemlock Hollow to let them know we would be late. So, when WW stopped and removed her pack to stretch a little, I opened it up, took out the heavy food bag and strapped it to my pack, before she had a chance to object. I then raced ahead to make the pick-up time (within the +/- 5mins I gave them). Waiting at the spot was James and his girlfriend. I apologized for being a couple of minutes late, loaded my pack in the back of their truck, and went back down the trail to retrieve WW (and her pack). James was the son of the Hemlock Hollow Inn¢s owner/proprietor, Diane. The nice fellow had us to the nice little retreat in the woods in a jiffy. Once there, we met Diane and she set us up with a quaint little cabin sitting adjacent to a mountain stream. We took quick showers and returned to the Inn¢s country store and were eating frozen pizza and ice cream. Diane was very accommodating and prepared an ice bag for WW¢s knee. Hopefully tomorrow¢s hike will be pain-free for Which Way.-- Next StepElevation Data:                    Weather:Ascent ~ 3,010                    Day ¢ 60 degrees / Mostly CloudyDescent ~ 2,890                  Night ¢ 45 degrees / CloudyGrade ~ 10.7Over the Horizon: Roan Mountain