Date: 2015-04-09
From: Walnut Mountain Shelter

To: Hot Springs
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Today was a short, easy day. I was on the trail by 7:00 and had my sights set on the town of Hot Springs. Samson and I had breakfast together, right along a creek that cascaded down the mountain. It is always nice to find a place along a creek when cooking, so that it is easier to wash the pot and spoon. I only have one pot and one spoon but I still don't like to use the water I carried to wash them. Breakfast is usually a honeybun or some kind of tastykake as soon as I'm packed up and ready to hit the trail. That usually keeps me going for several hours until I stop and cook two packets of instant oatmeal. After I eat the oatmeal I make some instant coffee or hot chocolate in the pot and drink it right from the pot. That helps with cleaning up the pot after the oatmeal.I could see the town of Hot Springs for miles away as I descended down towards it. As I got closer I could hear the occasional car going down a road, a distant dog barking, and a gas powered weed trimmer. Town sounds. The smell of freshly cut grass. Places where there are vending machines and showers.The Appalachian Trail goes right down the center of this really cool small town. There are AT symbols in the concrete of the sidewalks instead of the usual white blazes that we follow in the woods. I was looking for the Elmer's Sunnybank Inn that was listed in my guidebook and was having some trouble finding it. I stopped by the sidewalk where I thought it should be and was going to try calling the number, but didn't have phone service, when a person came out a driveway and asked if he can help me. When I told him what I'm looking for, he said, "this is it". It is a huge historic house that Elmer lives in and rents rooms to hikers. I reserved a room with two beds and texted Samson to tell him where to find it when he got here. We stayed in the same room that Earl Shaffer, the first person to walk the entire trail, stayed in 1948 and again in 1998. It is a wonderful place to stay.I spent the afternoon doing the things that need to be done in town. Eat, laundry, post office, clean gear, and relax with trail friends. I sent my running tights, my mittens, and my winter hat home. I am keeping my down jacket, my two long sleeve shirts, and my gloves just a little while longer. I replaced my Sawyer filter, since I stupidly let my original one freeze last week one night. I also replaced my headlight with one that has a dim red light option so that I don't disturb other people at hostels and shelters when I'm out and about at night. A Pennsylvanian that I was on the lookout for is staying in the same house we are. So is Dirty Harry, who is hanging out in town just before he heads off to work. It is always great to run into people I previously met on the trail.Thanks for all the great comments concerning the mountain rescue that took place on 4/4/15. We did not do anything special, we were just at the right place at the right time with gear that was useful. Any other thru hiker would have done the same, in fact, a number of other thru hikers did share their food, or made the offer, while we waited. The four college kids that went out at night, perhaps a bit unprepared, deserve recognition for their efforts. I want to add that I have heard some versions of the events that took place in both shelters that night, that differed slightly from my account. I wasn't at either shelter during the night so I can't say with complete certainty what actually took place. I also read a news article about an interview with the victim, he credits a higher power for saving his life. While I understand he is a man of faith and can credit whoever he wants, I see it a little differently. I saw modern technology and people with proper training saving the day. Communications, modern medical equipment, helicopters, well meaning people etc.