March 25th - Day 21 - Walnut Mountain Shelter to Hot Springs, NC

Anyone who has ever had to get up early for a flight, vacation, anything out of the ordinary is well aware of the feeling of being too excited to go back to sleep. This is my feeling as a northerner waking up to see everything covered in snow.

View from my sleeping bag this morning.

 My trip to the privy is probably the most pleasant on the most trail. Its a door-less privy looking out over a pristine snow covered landscape with some gentle snow falling, feels like I am in a screensaver. Live -n-Learn confirms this experience with a trip of his own. My inner peace is broken when Four-Fingers wakes up, starts playing Trick Daddy on his cellular, and complains about the snow. We learn that he earned his name by dislocating his finger with a hatchet on the first night of his journey. Seems legit.

Walnut Mountain Shelter, complete with hanging hiker gear, holes for snow to come in, and a brand new picnic table.

As much as I have been enjoying the sunny winter here in the south, I also really like hiking through the winter wonderland. It only takes about 3 inches to negate the painful impacts your feet make with the ground when your hiking. This is a welcome change. It's about 13 miles down to Hot Springs and it seems as if I'll be taking my first zero day of the journey tomorrow. Dorothy and Blink catch up to Dan, Live and I on the way into town. Pooh Bear also leap frogs with us the whole way.

Following Live up a snowy grade.

On a more sour note, we meet a group of five college girls hiking in the opposite direction who give us Hershey kisses as trail magic, but we later learn they had to be evacuated that night with hypothermia and all around ill-preparedness. Link to news article. Hard times.

Hot Springs approach through leak-less trees.

Getting out of the woods and into to town is always the easy part of the day. There is an initial sense of relief, accomplishment, and hunger. Followed most often by food coma and the confusion and scramble to find accommodations. Today is certainly not an exception. Elmer's is a well known trail hostel, my mail drop is there, but they only have two spots, and not to be picky but I want greasy meat based food. Elmer's is known for the great, healthy cuisine. I  know its probably better for my and tastes good, but ill leave my spot there open for someone who really cares. We stop at the diner in town, I eat the hiker special burger. I have a care package coming in from a friend in Bozeman, but it is no where to be found. I check with Elmer's and the post office but Ill have to wait until tomorrow to check again. After a few laps across town and back we settle at the Laughing Hearts hostel. I highly recommend this to anyone hiking in the future. I buy some beer and a fire is made. despite the coldness and snow in the mountains, in town tonight is quite pleasant. Motor plays guitar and I am happy to be where I am, hiking the AT.