Hello from Hot Springs, NC

water source for drinking & cooking...rainy day in the Smokies

QUICK NOTE: We are having issues downloading pics. More to come soon!

QUICK RECAP: We've finished the Smokies a few days ago. It was rough-it poured each of the 5 days, there were no views, the terrain was rough (the trail was steep, stream-like, and icy in parts), the trail wasn't well marked. Luckily, we met up with our 2 hiking buddies ("Endor" and "Splinter" at each shelter. This was nice as the Smokies is a bit freaky. For instance, the first night we stayed at a shelter that was caged in order to keep hikers safe from bears. A mama bear chased a group of hikers from Michigan out of the park earlier that morning. We didn't see her...phew! We took another unexpected pit stop (only 14 hours) in Gatlinburg, TN in order to find respite from pouring rain and cold.

After the Smokies, we rested at Standing Bear Farm hostel (200 yards from the AT). We enjoyed a $10 DiGiorno (sp?) frozen pizza and warm shower. Thanks "Rockhound" and Curtis for your hospitality!

The last shelter we stayed with "Endor" and "Splinter" was mice-infested. They ran all over us throughout the night. To make it worse, this shelter was known for bear visits. Needless to say, none of slept well.

Now, we are taking a zero day in Hot Springs, NC which we are enjoying immensely-coffee, food, shower, laundry, and internet. Our next planned stop is Erwin, TN which we should be at in 4-6 days. We hope to have cell service (but unlikely!) so we can catch up with all. Happy Hiking!

OFFICIAL TRAIL NAMES:

• BRITT a.k.a "HOT MESS" - As mentioned earlier, Britt constantly falls, spills, loses things, has a bizarre organizational system (one that Kirstin doesn't understand nor appreciate).


• KIRSTIN a.k.a "IDAG" or "TOO CLEAN" - While Kirstin wants to hang on to Idag which is explained in a previous post, our hiking buddies are disturbed by her obsession with being clean. She'll take every opportunity to do laundry (even if by hand) or take a shower. It doesn't help that she carries an oversized bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap. Fellow thru-hiker "Walk-About" said it is the size that the car wash buys once a year.

STATISTICS:

• Tuesday, March 17, we've been on the trail for 3 weeks.
  We've hiked 12.5% of the trail.
• We're out of the Smokies (72 miles)...all in the rain and no views.
• We've been in 3 states: Georgia, North Carolina & Tennessee.
• We'll be on the border of North Carolina & Tennessee for an additional 115 miles until we are solely in Tennessee.
• We've eaten 5 jars of peanut butter.
• We've taken 5 showers...not bad, not bad.
• We've had 7 rainy days and 1 snowy day.
• So far, we've had 5 hitches into town. There was a 2 part hitch from Gatlenburg to New Found Gap (15 miles). Our funny story is that every hiker says we are more likely to get a ride since we're girls. However, as we waited on the side of the roade, are trail buddies (2 boys that were 150 yards ahead of us) got picked up first. We know it was our hard work :) When we caught up to them, they told us they road in the bed of the pickup truck, whereas we got to ride in the cab with the driver. Chivalry still exists!
• Kirstin has 26 bug bites on her hands (not counting all the other bites on her other body parts). Keep in mind, it's not bug season yet...YIKES!
• We received our first mail drop a.ka. care package (THANKS Mom & Dad! Yeah, for home cooking, sweet notes, and real deodarant!).
• We've tried 2 new candy bars, Zero & Zagnut. More to come:)
• Britt almost a dozen times on the trail. Kirstin has stumbled but no complete falls yet!
• We've seen only one other girl hiker.
• We've been called Yankees at least 7 times.
• Britt's lost a mitten and dark Snickers bar. Kirstin's lost her bandana.
• We've completed our first 20+ mile day (a bit further than our 19.3 mile day)
• Sprint doesn't work ANYWHERE...grrrh!

THE THINGS PEOPLE SAY:

• "What made you want to do this horrendous thing?" Will a.k.a "Burns"(a fellow thru-hiker)
• "Are you them...there...those...long distance hikers?" An ederly couple offering a ride into town. We would have taken it, but we would have cut off 2.5 miles of the AT (talk about a white blaze purist which is an AT hiker that treks the entire trail with no shortcuts)
• "Are you for sure heading back to Chicago? Because if your not, I'd have to call you a damn yankee!" One of our rides.
• When we ask what kind of hike is ahead of us for the day. Everyone responds "A few MAJOR climbs, but nothing harder than what you've already done." This is code for "it's going to be a rough day again." Once we complete the AT, the elevation climbed will equal climing up and down Mt. Everest 16 times. We believe it!!
• While on a steep climb, Britt asked Kirstin if she had her hiking legs. Kirstin's response: "Not yet."
• "I'll quit tomorrow." - "Walk-About" told us to use this motto any time we feel like ending our adventure.