Date: 2015-03-14
From: Standing Bear Farm Hostel

To: S.H. 1182
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: light snow

Day 34 - 3/12 - Didn't sleep well at all. Moved very slowly in morning. Settled up with Lumpy and Rocket. 4+ miles of "up" to start and it felt like I had a pack full of bricks. Made it up Snowbird Mountain and on the way down started to really feel pain in toes. Right boot started leaking a while back and now it really wasn't "right". Got in to Groundhog Creek shelter very early. Feet wouldn't allow me to continue. Ate a very early dinner. Kid on spring break from UNC showed up. He and Longhorn got the fire going well. Still tough to do as dry fuel is in short supply. Ohio showed up. Very fast thru-hiker. We talked for a while and watched the fire - our trail TV. I relaced my boots to give me more room. While hiking today I started craving a Whataburger Potato/Egg/Cheese taquito with spicy ketchup. UNC said there are Whataburgers in N.C., but not one in Hot Springs.Day 35 - 3/13 - On the trail by 8:00. UNC stayed behind and Ohio passed us a while into the hike. Light rain turned heavier and winds really picked up. Got much colder. Got to state road and decided to try to catch a ride into Hot Springs to solve some gear issues. A truck was rolling by and I stuck out my thumb. Guy stopped and I told him we were trying to get to town. He, his son, and their dog made room for us and we climbed in. Turns out they're a swimming family from the Knoxville area. Dad swam (backstroker) and the kids do now. He is also a hiker. Said they'd planned to go enjoy Max Patch but it was miserable up there. Glad we didn't go up. He dropped us at the outfitter and refused gas money. We were so lucky they came along! Saw a few hikers we knew at the outfitter. LTD, Ox, and Sasquatch were there. I replaced my Asolo boots. They began leaking around 200 miles into the hike. Also bought a small & light MSR Hubba tent. Longhorn and I both replaced our not-really-waterproof gloves from REI. My Sealskinz should do a much better job. We grabbed some lunch, got a room, and hit the library computer room. Later we were able to go back "downtown". Got on outfitter computer to get return info for my REI and Sierra Trading Post returns. Longhorn went across street and threw our wet clothes in a laundromat dryer then came back to line up a shuttle back to the trail for Sunday. We ate at the Mexican restaurant while the clothes dried before heading back to the room. All this is within just a few blocks, making getting around on foot very quick and easy.Day 36 - 3/14 - We're taking a zero here. Got my returns sent out when the post office opened. Grabbed a snack at the Hillbilly Market for breakfast. Ran into Ohio at library. Said Max Patch was miserable yesterday. Glad we caught a ride and can enjoy it tomorrow. It's hard to trust the weather forecasts but they say today will be crappy but tomorrow will be nice. We'll see...Notes:Yeah, Bill, Standing Bear is right after we crossed under interstate. Some hikers try hitching east or west from there, but with nothing at that interchange for cars to be getting on/off, I doubt they have much luck.Weight loss is now at over 35 pounds, Lion King. Don't think this method will interest many, though. Unless you can make claims like "Work out for only ten minutes each day!" or "Eat all the pizza you want!", this AT weight-loss routine sounds too much like the hard work and sacrifice it really is.