Date: 2016-03-26
From: Catpen Gap Campground

To: Hogback Ridge Shelter
Miles today: 53.2
Weather: scattered clouds

I had a 4 day block of time where I just did not have the energy to write in my journal so this entry is devoted to catching back up. Each missed day is summarized in a paragraph below...Day 34 - Catpen Campground to Hot Springs/Asheville, NC 11.7 miles 3/26/16Cheetah's ex-coworker Jen picked us up in Hot Springs and drove us 45 mins to her beautiful home in Asheville, NC. We ordered from a restaurant called Homegrown and watched Villanova in the NCAA tournament. Corncob's cousin, Arcidiacano (sp?), is the start player on the team which was really fun to watch. Fell asleep in a real bed which was wonderful. Also, big shoutout to the Sunshine Gang (AT thru-hikers 2012). Before hitting Hot Springs, Cheetah and I came across their campsite where they had set up a couple days of trail magic. They were making chocolate chip pancakes, apple moon pies, clementines, bananas, etc. So so so tasty. It was fun talking to a couple named Tom and Jerry who now live in Damascus. Jerry is from Hilton Head Island and Tom is a big climber who has frequented Red River Gorge. Amazing group to run into.Day 35 - Zero day in Asheville, NC 3/27/16Jen made us eggs, bacon, and Rhodo let us eata lot of his REAL NYC boiled bagels. We did laundry and ate a lot of food for lunch. Jen drove us to downtown Asheville and we walked around. Ate at Early Girl Eatery then ice cream at Kilwins. Walked to Haris Teeter for resupply. Jen made us a huge dinner of a whole turkey, broccoli, carrots, bread. Then apple pie, salted caramel ice cream. Watched the Tar Heels play. Loved that Jen was a huge basketball fan. She was so passionate and it reminded me of UK fans. Went to bed in the comfiest bed on the trail.Day 36 - Hot Springs, NC to Pond Campsite 3/28/16 4.8 milesWe were dropped off at 9:30am in Hot Springs. Jen made us an amazing breakfast of homemade granola/oatmeal. She stewed apples, apricots and raisins to pour on top as a sort of syrup. FOOD SO GOOD. Dropped off at Bluff Mountain Outfitters. Post office run. Corncob headed to the mountain. We (Rhodo & Cheetah) started heading out but stopped at the Hot Springs resort. Took a mineral bath, walked back to town for lunch. Whoops. Hiked out at 4pm and went 5 miles to pond. Camped with Snap, Tank, Frodo, Captain Chuckles. Nice fire, beautiful stars. Day 37 - Pond Campsite to Jones Meadow Campsite 3/29/16 16.9 milesWoke up to a beautiful day. Captain Chuckles hiked with us to have a slower day. Met Palendrome. His trail name is introduced as a riddle asking us to figure out his real name which is actually a palendrome. I couldn't figure it out until I told a fellow hiker to which they immediately replied "Mike Kim." Andddd he was right, ugh. Snap lead all 8 of us up a 5 mile climb to a shelter. We had a 1.3 steep steep STEEP climb after that then less than a mile to our final destination. Cheetah took a 15 minute break with Rhodo and I powered on with Palendrome. He chatted me all the way up that mountain. I was dying but without his distraction it would have seemed impossible. Set up camp with Chuckles, Frodo and Tank again. Snap gets off the trail April 7th so we really want to spend time with him. Chuckles has a troll doll named By Lunchtime. The doll likes to sneak into people's sleeping bags, shoes, and surprise the unsuspecting hiker.Day 38 - Jones Meadow Campsite to Flint Mountain Shelter 3/30/16 11 milesNeeded to get to Erwin bc Corncob's amazing mother got us a hotel room which is seriously so nice. We have decided to do 11 miles then 8.8 then 2 miles to Sam's gap. We are being picked up by Eggman (a past AT thru hiker). This way we can maximize our time with Snap before he leaves and we can get to Erwin by Friday. We will be "yellow blazing: about 27 miles of the trail by doing this. Had lunch at Jerry Cabin with new faces. Stretch (19 year old from South Florida), Riptide (Louisville 25 year old guy), Agua (Augusta GA, mid 20's, 2014 Southbounder). Thorasee and Freud (two girls hiking like us!) stopped for lunch as well. Snap and Rhodo were with us. We made it to 300 miles. Beautiful day. We spent 2 hours sunbathing. 6 more miles to Flint Mountain Shelter. Met Ron Jon. Tessla and Rash stopped for a bit before continuing on in the dark. Honeybuns was also there. He was at Top of Georgia with the name Weatherman at that time. Fun guy to be around as well. Very windy night.Day 39 - Flint Mountain Shelter to Hogback Ridge Shelter 3/31/16 8.8 milesNow caught up! Woke up this morning to crazy wind. Slept in till 9am bc we were only doing 9 miles. Headed out with Agua and Snap. Honeybuns behind us. Nice and flat for 3 miles the 3 miles uphill. Snap and Honeybuns veered off to the Hikers Paradise hostel for pizza and wifi. We continued on. Hard uphill for me today. Legs were very fatigued. We stopped for lunch at the very top with Agua. Definite rain today, we were just waiting for it. Continued downhill with only 3 miles to shelter. Lots more green sprouting up lately. Crazy winds blowing sideways. Rain stated, not bad though. Agua rejoined after a bathroom break and we pulled into the shelter around 4pm. Riptide and Ron Jon were already there. Shelter fits 6 and we crushed 8 people in. Gross weather for a it. Lots of new faces that I don't remember too well. Two Tennessee boys, one in college, one just out of college. The plan is to met Eggman at Sam's Gap at 10am and then heading to Uncle Johnny's to pick up my new, unbroken trekking poles! Then Corncob and Rhodo will pick us up for the hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee. 6:45pm. Really foggy. Everyone pretty much cooked dinner in their tent or in the shelter. The rain eventually stopped and Agua built a huge fire. The fog was so thick and creepy. Snap posed me for some cool long exposure shots with my red headlamp. Worried about mice tonight with the rain. Good day, ready to meet Mama Corncob and reunite with the boys tomorrow!