04/12/2013
Well Hello!
Sorry its been awhile. Between crappy weather and little to no cell signal, it has been tough to find a good place to update from.
But I am still alive!
Posting from the library in Damascus, VA.
What does VA stand for you ask??
VIRGINIA! State number 4!
We are at mile 467 and taking a zero to relax in this awesome little trail town.
To briefly update you on the last 3 weeks...
We had pretty smooth sailing from Gatlinburg on through the rest of the smokies. However. my impression of warmer weather on the other side of the smokies was quickly proven wrong. We were a day or two outside of Hot Springs, NC and got a freak snow storm. In total it was probably only about 10-12" but it fell over 2 days, drifts could be almost waist deep in spots and during the storm the trail was almost invisible. Needless to say, it took a few short days in Hot Springs to recover but we made it through.
Then when we thought it really had to be over we got another sizeable winter storm. We did a short 6 miles outside of Erwin, TN to a shelter and bunkered down watching freezing rain, sleet and snow fall to coat and freeze EVERYTHING is sight. It was a cold and wet day but the hike out the next morning brought us up and over Roan Mountain and down to clear balds where the sun was finally poking through. And then just like that, summer was here and we were sweating bullets and taking siestas to keep cool midday.
Never a dull moment!
Sadly this is the town where Pete has to get off the trail to return for work. His companionship, cheer and love for making fires have been greatly appreciated and many of us are sad to see him go.
Last night was spent celebrating our accomplishment of making it to VA with many hikers who all happened to converge on Damascus at the same time. We couldn't have asked for more.
I'd say on to West Virgina now but its abotu 540 miles out so hopefully I'll have a few updates in between.
Later!
