Date: 2013-04-27
From: Ashville, NC

To: Log Cabin Drive
Miles today: 16.3
Weather: few clouds

Early morning ride back to Hot Springs where I say goodbyes to Heather and meet up with Hawk and Roadrunner at the motel. Overcast skies. quick stop in town to get my mail drop then back on the trail. we walk across town, over the train tracks and past the spa to the French Broad river. On the other side of the bridge the trail goes over the guard rail and then descends to the bank of the river where it follows it southwards past stealth campsites to the base of the hill. The climb starts out steep, then we reach Lovers Leap Rock halfway up. Slowly climbing all day, no lunch break, just snacking as we go since the temperature is gradually dropping and the overcast skies first dropping a light drizzle then real rain. No good dry places to sit anyway. I lose the white blazes for a time, backtrack and see trail leads down on gravel road, so i proceed down and back into forest. Looking back I see Hawk at a distance make the same mistake also by going up where the trail turns downward. I yell several times but he does not hear, i am pretty far away and likely has his earphones on and wont hear regardless. He'll figure it out soon enough, so I continue on. Rain is pretty constant now, getting into boots and pants. Foggy as ever and cold now. I wait at the summit of Rich Mountain for Hawk to catch up. Nowhere dry to sit, I just stand leaning on my trekking poles. I am next to the sign pointing to the blue blazed side trail leading to the lookout tower, however with the fog as thick as it is now, no reason to go there. Finally Hawk sneaks up on me and I dont realize it until he is right next to me. We push on. Arrive at Spring Mountain Shelter, behind the tarp covering the entrance I see it is somewhat full, guys in there are all bundled up in their bags and don't look too willing to scoot over to let more people in so we press on down to Allen Gap past the road to Log Cabin Drive, take a left off the trail almost a mile down, cross the bridge over the stream to Hemlock Hollows hostel. We see Road Runner and another hiker about to leave riding in someones truck. He explains to us the hostel is full, however with all the hikers around looking to escape the storm, some locals have come by, allowing hikers to stay at their place. We are told to check in here at the hostel and wait for the driver to drop them off then return here to get us. Drop packs and poles on porch and enter into small room that is a general store, connected is a small common area with seats around a fireplace. All sorts of country themed art hang from the walls. through the doorway is the dining room, we grab a seat at empty table where some hikers finished eating, their plates still there. Others are eating around us, as difficult as it was we opt not to order anything as we are carrying full food in our packs, 7 days in my case due to left over plus new mail drop. Way too much too heavy, I learned not to take that much again. Clothes are still sopping wet, shivering and feeling cold and ride is taking longer than expected to return so get dry tshirt and fleece from pack and put that on. Driver arrives, he is tall gray haired gentleman, we load into his truck and he takes us around dark mountain roads, across farmlands to his home 20 minutes away. He is the owner of a dog training and kennel business and explains there is open space in the warehouse/showroom. It is a corrugated aluminum structure, about the size of half a basketball court. We enter the door, the floor is concrete, mostly open space with some work equipment and tables. in the back corner is a door to the bathroom. on one side is a refrigerator, sink, toaster, coffee maker and cupboard. He shows us around, turns the heat on and goes to his house next door. Road Runner is setup already as is Dr. Pepper, a tall German hiker who passed us early in the day. I hung my wet clothes, laid out my sleeping bag, and began to make dinner. On the roof we can hear the patter of rain continue. We are told the rain will continue tomorrow all day, reluctantly we decide that it will be a zero day.