March 31, 2016 - Day 13

The day started out at 5am with a roar and then 50-60 mile an hour winds!  Tent stakes were pulled out, tents and contents (including people) were in jeopardy as Mother Nature tried to blow them off the mountain.  Southpaw (Dennis) was sleeping in a hammock under a tarp vs. using a tent and the high winds blew his tarp away, collapsed his hammock and created all kinds of havoc.  Dennis gathered up his belongings, packed them away and headed down the mountain in the dark.  Ken and Jill toughed it out until 7am and then, they too, packed up and headed down trail.

The original plan was for all of them to hike to the next road crossing in the morning at mile 110 where Jill's friend from high school, Russell, would pick them up and take them all to his home for the day and night.  Dennis was waiting for them at the road and all three were together again.

They were back on plan and Russell picked them up and took them to his home in the town of Franklin, NC.



Ken said he looked in the mirror and scared himself, then took the best shower in his life.  He said he was still scared after, but at least he looked more human.

 

Jill started laundry for all of them and they looked forward to being clean in clean clothes.

 

There was an outfitter store in town and Ken got a new alcohol stove, gators (or spats...as my dad calls them), another pair of socks and trail food.

 

It was a rainy kind of day and all the hotels and motels were full of hikers.  In addition to the 2,000+ Thru-Hikers that had registered (of which 60% have already quit), there are thousands more of section hikers.  These are hikers who can only take a week or so off work each year and hike sections of the AT with the hope of someday completing the entire AT.  Others are hiking with no goal in mind other than to enjoy nature, exercise and to enjoy friends or family time together.

 

I think Ken, IWOX and Southpaw had the best beds in town!  They sure had the best accommodations, if their evening meal was an example.  

 

 

Another night at Russell's and back on the trail tomorrow.

 

Mile 109.8

Elevation 2,036