Date: 2014-05-02
From: Seeley-Woodworth Shelter

To: DevilÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂs Backbone Brewery
Miles today: 22.1

Today was a long, strenuous day, featuring one of the longest climbs I¢ve experienced in several hundred miles, yet it was also one of the most rewarding. The crew and I started the day off at 3,800 ft., and after 7.5 miles of ridge walking, we started a steep, 4.3 mile descent to the Tye River. When descents are extremely steep, it wears on your knees and ankles, starting small fires between your joints. Throw in some rocks beneath your feet, and you have a recipe for soreness.Thankfully, after over an hour of going straight downhill, we found ourselves crossing a suspension footbridge to the north side of the Tye River. We cooled our feet and legs in its icy waters while we ate lunch and soaked in the warm afternoon sun. We stayed there for well over an hour, absorbed in the serenity and the calm water trickling by us. But of course, all good things must eventually end, and we soon found ourselves huffing and puffing our way out of the Tye River Valley. For another 6.5 miles, we chugged up a mix of switchbacks and plain old straight up hiking trail. My shirt was completely soaked by the end, but I was still energized and ready to complete another four miles to our destination for the day.The weather has become reliably warm now, which means that our weekends are quickly becoming flooded with section hikers. Today I passed no less than 30 section hikers going south, all in various states of preparedness for their trips. One unfortunate couple was dressed from head to toe in safari garb, complete with cloth pith helmets, and it was immediately obvious that they had no idea what they were doing. Neither of them could read their map, and when we attempted to explain how to follow the white blazes of the AT, their eyes glazed over like I was explaining advanced calculus. I finally pointed to a downhill, easily identifiable stretch of the trail and said, ¢Go that way and you¢ll get to your campsite¢. They thanked us, and the male loudly announced that he ¢would never be hiking again¢. It¢s always unfortunate when a lack of experience, preparedness, and/or guidance can permanently sour someone against the wonders of the outdoors. The again, that¢s also one les person I have to fight with over a place to pitch a tent. We finally arrived at Reeds Gap at around 6:00 PM, where we planned to hitch down to the Devil¢s Backbone Brewery. Not only did they make their own beers and prepare excellent food, but reportedly they also let AT thru-hikers camp out on the grounds for free. This was an opportunity we couldn¢t pass up. After about 20 minutes of hitching (and zero help from douche in a Porsche who squealed out in front of us), two local fishermen gladly transported us down to the restaurant. If I have learned anything on this trip, it¢s that fishermen are some of the most helpful and giving people in all of Appalachia.When we arrived at the brewery, we were immediately met by the manager, who seemed thrilled to have hikers at his place. Despite our shaggy, unwashed appearance, Hawk, Birdman, Sea Biscuit, and I were treated like Kings. We bought some of the best food I¢ve had so far on the trail ¢ the burger I had was stacked with three inches of beef and toppings ¢ and while I didn¢t partake this time due to taking an antibiotic, I was told that the beer was top notch.After devouring an obscene amount of food, the manager then escorted us to the brewery clubhouse, where we rolled out our sleeping bags and cowboy camped under a clear sky. He also unlocked the bathrooms in the clubhouse and, as a cherry on top of a cake of a day, handed us a free growler full of their most expensive beer. It was a perfect ending to a great day, and now I plan to watch the stars until I drift off into a warm, contented sleep.