Date: 2007-04-22
From: Stealth Site Before Garenflo Gap

To: Hot Springs 
Miles today: 8.4
Weather: clear sky

April 22, Hot Springs Well, last night was a little different. It was nice and warm out when I went to bed so I left my vestibule open. I loved having the air and so did my stuffy nose. The only trouble is that when I'd wake up to roll over or something, there was too much to look at to fall back asleep! I woke up around midnight and there were lots of stars out so I laid on my back to look. I woke up around 4:45 a.m. and there were even more stars so, again, I watched them. Now it's 6:45 a.m. and I can't fall back asleep because I see the day starting around me. It's nice that my tent has no condensation though - and I was not disturbed by any bears. I was sure I would be. So, I don't feel super well rested but I do feel very relaxed. It was really nice stealth camping again. We've been camping outside of the shelters for so long now and it's nice to just find our own spot once again - much more calming and relaxing.And it was nice to not be stuffed like a sausage in my sleeping bag!It was so warm that I barely zipped it up and I definitely didn't cinch everything up. I loved it. It was about 52 degrees all night and now it's 55.4!We are headed into Hot Springs today and I can't wait. I want to sleep and get better. Hot Springs is another place where I feel like I've reached a milestone. It's another one of the places that I've read so much about and now I'm finally here, and I walked here....Well, we made it to Hot Springs in record time - for us. Somewhere around 8-point-something miles in four hours and fifteen minutes! My body felt pretty good this morning - no aches. My head and throat? Not so good. The trail today was gorgeous. Just gorgeous. So much green. Pine needles lining the trail as if it was red carpet. Soft rolling hills to begin and a few stream crossings. Lots of rhododendron. The morning sun started to heat it all up turning it into a ideal day. I was breaking trail for the first portion of the day - lots of fresh spiderwebs. But, I developed a system of backwoods kung-fu with my trekking poles to efficiently, yet sadly, destroy the webs before they smothered my head. I love being near rhododendron. I find it calming. None of them have bloomed yet but I love how green they are right now. And the green calms me. It makes me feel like it has to be warm. And warm is good.I would highly recommend the trail from Hot Springs to Max Patch to anyone looking for a section hike. The trail is full of water, the greenery is amazing, it's not unbelievably difficult, and Max Patch is unbeatable.The weather today was great too. It was probably in the 80s in the sun, 70s in the shade. It's hard to believe that one week ago, I was trudging through a snow storm. Unbelievable. I actually sought out a spot in the shade today for a break! I NEVER do that!Anyway, we took a 20 minute break for lunch and after that my body got mad at the movement. Everything hurt. The mad dash to town was slowed by my sore feet and knees. I even put my Crocs on as we neared town to let my feet get some air. And, we could see town - it was taunting us. It was straight down the mountain and we had to zigzag down the switchbacks slowly until finally...we were in a parking area with a sign denoting Hot Springs!The trail then went down a set of stairs in someone's backyard and crossed the road. It follows the sidewalk on the main strip through town and had little AT plaques in the cement to mark it. I was hungry. I was threatening Certain about a cheeseburger so we went to Paddler's Pub. Lunch was a let down only because I cannot currently taste anything. But, I had a cheeseburger, onion rings, and then I went across the street and got a chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone. That had to have been delicious, right?We checked into our "cabins" and got cleaned up and then headed out for laundry. I felt terrible. Tired and miserable from my cold. It was moving to my throat so it hurt to talk. I came back to my cabin and tried to sleep but it was too warm and loud to rest properly. I slept for about 30 minutes.Right now I am waiting for Certain and Rachel to get back from the store. They are so kind - went to stock me up on medicine. I can't wait for some sort of cough drop to numb the pain in my throat.I am glad to be in Hot Springs.- Sound of the squealing lightbulb in my "cabin", crickets outside, sounds from the back of the restaurant next door.Post Trail Thoughts:I sort of felt like I was in a "sick jail" at those cabins. It was this tiny enclosed space but it was so hot and so bright in there I couldn't sleep. We were right behind Paddler's Pub and I could hear all the noise of downtown. I would soon learn about the various upgrades in shelter we had available to us in Hot Springs, the loudest trail town.