Date: 2018-04-04
From: Hot Springs NC

To: Hot Springs NC
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

A day off! I'm at mile 271 or so and feeling good! Ive been 160 miles since my last day off so I think I'm okay to take one. Most hikers seem to feel guilty taking zeros but man are they nice. We woke up around 730- I can't sleep in at this point- and joined green grass and Armor for breakfast at the same place we had dinner the night before. I had a veggie omelette with home fries and coffee. Such a nice meal! Healthy again!After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Green Grass and Armor who were headed out on trail today after hiking 3miles yesterday and taking a nearo. It was raining so I give them credit for pushing through. I was happy to avoid the rain when we could so it seems our zero was well timed.We entered the outfitters where we attempt to not spend all our money. I bought stove fuel which lasts me 1-2 weeks like everyone else depending on how many times I boil. I also splurged and bought two mountain House meals-- chicken teriyaki and lasagna. Those will be nice treats. I finally got some insoles for my boots to try and help my feet a bit.We each left the store and went our separate ways. I ran to the Hillbilly market (that's legit the name of it!) and resupplied on food then made my way back up to the hostel. There, we all did our chores which include washing our pots and sporks, repacking items, fixing anything that broke, drying everything, planning the next few days of hiking, looking at the forecast, catching up with family, posting journals and tons of other stuff. We really are in the true south that I realized I haven't actually experienced before! It's all so different and cool!Around noon we decided to walk downtown again, use the libraries good wifi and get any other food for the next few days of hiking and possibly eat more. I'm currently sitting in the library now and it's very nice. Plan for tonight is to eat dinner and sleep then Soothe Sayer is going to cook pancakes and eggs in the morning at the hostel. What a guy! Just a nice relaxing day trying to avoid spending too much money. It's always fun being in town and seeing hikers you know coming down from the mountain and catching up!I figured I'd take this time to write about the hike in general. The tough and the easy, along with the routine and such.1. Typically in the morning I wake up and slowly unpack my sleeping bag. I sleep in a 3 degree mummy bag with my water filter so it doesn't freeze, my electronics for the same reason, socks for the next day and sometimes a variety of other gear that is weather dependent. I seem to have gotten a pretty good routine down even in a crowded shelter early in the morning.2. I begin packing my equipment into my pack once I retrieve my bear bag out of the tree. This is a science that has taken some altering over the past few weeks to make it perfect. My sleeping bag and tent fall at the bottom making sure no buckles face my back as to not dig in while I hike. Next I put my camp shoes and clothes bag and finally my food bag! The most important. In the brain of my pack is my medical kit, guidebook, spork, lighter, water filter, snacks, and a bunch of other smaller things.3. I eat breakfast. Usually a pretty quick one with water to begin hydrating me. I've already acknowledged my unhealthy eating but I'm definitely not the worst. I pull a snack bag out of my food bag and place snacks in strategic locations to access easily while hiking. This method works well as it holds me to only eating a certain amount without sacrificing all my food.4. I begin the hike, stopping for breaks every hour or two and eating as I go. Lunch usually falls around 1pm or at a good view with nice comfortable temps.5. I get to camp and socialize. Every afternoon I clean my feet with a baby wipe and foot powder. Between Abby and my new friend Chris who both recommended it I'm so glad I do. It keeps me blister free and airing them in my sandals allows them to breath.6. I then pull out my dinner food, prepare my tent or spot in the shelter then filter water. I like doing this in daylight so I don't have to worry about it later and so I can just begin hiking the next day with close to a full 2L.7. Dinner usually falls around 5-6pm then hanging bear bags and using the privy. Around 7-730 as the sun goes down most of us begin going to bed but sometimes we stay up until 9ish which is considered hiker midnight.I will say the days can get monotonous. There have been days where you get up with no motivation to hike but pushing myself is all part of the trip. Finding ways to spice it up, enjoying the view and taking breaks really helps with morale and towns are always fun to look forward to. I wouldn't trade this trip for anything though! It's demanding and extremely tough but so rewarding and fun. I'm not usually a spontaneous guy but the AT forces me to adapt and change constantly while I learn more about myself, my body and have endless amounts of time alone in the woods to think and enjoy. Thanks for the guest book comments and good wishes! I hope I've been able to answer questions and respond to your comments. Check out my photos I uploaded and the descriptions I wrote!Quinn- I'd definitely love to have you join me in NH/New England! Looking forward to it!