Date: 2017-10-28
To: Boots Off Hostel
Miles today: 4.7
Weather: overcast clouds

10/28Boots Off Hostel4.7 miles I pulled a damnfool move last night. I was having my nightly sip of scotch when a dayhiker stopped by the shelter. I didn't think about what I was doing and kept sipping while we talked. When he left I got up and realized that I had sipped WAY more than I should have. A little later I had to migrate away from the shelter to puke, and I had to sit up in my sleeping bag afterward until the world stopped spinning. I like to drink but I don't like to drink to excess. It's miserable. I'm a little stunned that I got schnockered in such a short time and on the amount of liquor that I did. I was so mad about it that I threw out the rest of the scotch I had. I woke up feeling hungover this morning, of course. All pale and shaky. I had coffee and a honeybun and was all right, but I wished I had been able to retain dinner the night before. Today for the first time in years I got feeling hypoglycemic, and I'm certain it's related. The four of us at the shelter walked down to Wilbur Dam parking area together. They seemed content to have me in front, which was fine by me. My foot made me slow, but my thruhiker stamina meant I didn't need to stop. It worked out that we would bunch up on downhills and spread out on uphills. I had the unaccustomed luxury of talking to another person while hiking. Dana, Judy, and Alan were a fun bunch. I got a ride with Dana and his son. They dropped me off at the hostel. The bunkhouse had all the lower bunks taken, so I opted for a tiny house - effectively a half size bunkhouse. After showering I went up the hill to dump my trash and found hiker JD! His group was the one in the bunkhouse. It sure was good to see him again. I would love to join his current tramily but they're doing big days of slackpacking. Even without a pack I don't see my foot handling a 20 mile day. I spent the afternoon being chilly in the tiny house and realized that tomorrow would be miserable with no heat - it's expected to snow all day. I went up to the bunkhouse to try to climb into an upper bunk. I discovered that even if my foot didn't hurt, I still wouldn't be agile enough to climb up there. Fearless and I were discussing the possibility of me sleeping on the table when JD climbed up into a top bunk and offered me his bottom bunk. He is such a gentleman! I took him up on the offer with much gratitude. I grabbed my things from the tiny house and moved up the hill. The heat feels amazing. A nero today and zero tomorrow throw me off schedule, and at the moment I can't just walk longer days to make it up. I'm starting to consider that this thruhike may have to be turned into a long ass section hike. Cold weather is already coming, and I'm not prepared for serious winter hiking. Mindy said Clingman's Dome was supposed to be at 15 degrees and get 7 inches of snow tomorrow. Likely it will melt well before I get there, but clearly it is not too early to encounter winter in the Smokies. I'm not sure how far I'll hike. Injury may not be what takes me off the trail. If the weather gets bad enough to send me home before Springer, I won't be heartbroken. I've hiked a long time and a long distance. I've made friends. I've had adventures. I miss my home and my family. It's getting to be time to be with the ones I love.