Date: 2012-04-30
From: Hogback Ridge Shelter

To: Erwin
Miles today: 26.5
Weather: scattered clouds

What a day!I slept in my new tent this morning for the first time. I got off to a late start because I was so comfortable and the tent was blocking the sun. I was on the trail by 8:00am. One of the highlights today was crossing "Big Bald" it was like "Max Patch Bald" only today it was clear and I could see all the mountains. I met a couple guys who were out bird watching and gave them the link to my journal. A few miles after that I saw my first Marmot, just off the trail. Then at Spivey Gap I hit trail magic. A 2009 thru-hiker named "Hoover" and his family were cooking brats and corn on the cob for the hikers. They also had sodas, brownies, oranges, and strawberries. It was awesome. He said his name was "Hoover" because he ate so much on his thru-hike. He said this was his way of giving back for all that he had been given. Afterward I walked 5 more miles to the next shelter where I had planned to stop, but something came over me. I just passed by the shelter and kept walking all the way to Erwin. Those oranges must have energized me. It was weird because for about an hour I was in my head thinking about different things and realized that my body was going down the trail on autopilot. I had been totally oblivious. Coming into Erwin was pretty cool. The trail takes you across a ridge and looking over the edge of a steep cliff is a river. Across the river is the town of Erwin. It looks close enough to smell the KFC but it's deceiving. By the time I made it down all the switch backs to the base of the mountain it was dark. It would have been much faster to take a hang glider to town or the worlds largest zip-line. As soon as you get off the trail you're at Uncle Johnny's hostel. Hanging around the porch was the usual hiker riff-raff. One tried to hand me a beer as I went to check in, I politely declined. Inside behind the counter is a fellow named "Grim", he's exactly the kind of character you want to meet at a place like this. He's wearing a Crocodile Dundee hat and a kilt. He's got a personality all his own. I got a tent space in the backyard, it's the cheapest they get, and it comes with use of the shower. After I made camp I ordered an Italian grinder from a local pizza place. I waited up at the front porch for delivery. 8 or 9 hikers in different stages of inebreation were gathered around a couple of picnic tables drinking. I sat off in the corner on a lawn chair waiting for my sandwich. Then, "Grim" came out of the office and started talking gear with some of the hikers. He declared "this is a thru-hikers pack" and pulled out the tiniest backpack I've ever seen. He sat his pack on the picnic table and started a little demonstration. I had to get a closer look. He started pulling things out and setting them on the table. I was amazed and so was everyone else. Those ultralight guys from the other day have nothing on Grim. He had the bare minimum of everything, but it all made sense. His pack was only 6 lbs... unbelievable... Grim is in the Super Ultra Light category with his pack. He said when he first got on the A.T. He started out with way too much junk like everyone else but he learned fast. He only brings some instant rice and oil for food, he catches bugs, earthworms, snakes, and birds to supplement his diet between towns. I think that's how he got his name "Grim". Today was a big day to get to Erwin, 26.5 miles, my biggest day yet. I decided to take some vitamin I tonight (hiker speak for ibuprofen). Hopefully I won't be too sore in the morning.