Date: 2019-01-20
From: Moreland Gap Shelter

To: US 19E
Miles today: 18.4

It started raining around midnight. I got up to go to the bathroom around 3 and it was still raining but warm and the shelter was completely dry. At about 5 the rain stopped and it got windy. At 6:30 when I woke up and started moving I realized everything in the shelter was covered in snow including my quilt and the snow was still blowing in. Ug! I pulled my quilt back over Rusty and me to stay warm and decide what to do. It is great to know that even snow covered my quilt keeps us warm! I decided the best thing would be to wait till it got light, 7:30, then pack as quickly as possible and get moving. Fortunately I did have my puffy, fleece and warm pants in my backpack so they were dry. The clothes I wore yesterday I had hung up and were now scattered about covered in snow.  I ate a couple cliff bars and got dressed while keeping under my quilt. Then I let the air out of my sleeping pad and roll it up as quickly as I could. Of course snow was blowing on it so my hands were freezing. I can¢t use my ski mittens to do anything that takes dexterity. I stuffed everything in my backpack. I found my raincoat outside the shelter, shook off all the snow and put that on too. I started hiking in a funk. I am tired of being wet and cold.  Fortunately Rusty was enjoying the snow. Once again his attitude really helps and I tried to just enjoy how pretty it was; however, once again I had to keep ducking and knocking the snow covered branches out of my way. Also I need sun and it¢s been cloudy for days.  We stopped at the first shelter we came too around noon and it was completely dry. The wind was hitting the back of the shelter. It was so nice I decided to make coffee and oatmeal. I definitely needed that because the rest of the hike was enjoyable. It did continue to lightly snow all day but there wasn¢t much accumulation. I got to my hostel The Station at 19E and met Dave the owner and Eddie and his pup at the downstairs bar. They took me upstairs and the place is great! Each bunk has a curtain for privacy and there is a warm gas fireplace and comfy chairs in front. Hikers built the bunks and decorated the place. They also have loaner clothes and a great shower. They also have trail magic set up through their site where people can buy hikers beer and night stays. I happened to be the first thru this year so I got a free beer and a free night stay - awesome!  I took a long hot shower then unpacked my backpack and hung my stuff up to dry. I also started laundry. Then I went downstairs to the bar with Rusty who was invited! The bartender Crazy Wolf was a thru hiker last year and got here and never left. The other bartender Lizzy moved here from Miami in July. She was sitting in a bar in NC and the guy next to her mentioned he was selling his house. She asked how much and realized how inexpensive it was and bought it never seeing it. She was a veteran and then a police officer for 16 years and was extremely stressed out. She quit her job and moved here. She originally got a job at a nearby brewery but when that went under, Dave offered her the job here.  I started with venison stew that one of the locals had made then fish and chips. They both were great. I tried the recommended IPA, Bearded Iris Homestyle, and loved it. After eating I could tell Rusty wanted to go to bed so I took him back upstairs. Then I went back down to the music room where they had the AFC Championship on a huge projector. Dave is a Pats fan so it was great watching the game with him. I also met a 2018 thruhiker Rebel who misses the mountains so came back here to see Roan Mt again. Daryl, the owner of the AT famous barbecue place was here also and does a lot of trail magic too. Rebel recognized Daryl since last year he drove him to pick up a package. Fortunately I am taking a zero here since it¢s such a great place!