April 2nd - Day 29 - Leap Frog Cafe to Greasy Creek Friendly

Fresh Grounds is up at three or four in the morning. I think he may have run into town to get more supplies, but by the time the troops have mustered, he is whipping up banana pancakes, bacon, and home fries faster than comprehension. I am hiking by 9 AM. The first bump of the day is a bald that has a 360 degree view, we see our next climb up ahead; Unaka Mountain. Unaka is a unique mountain on the AT, I am sure that all thru hikers can remember Unaka just by the name. the summit has no views but instead is completely in coniferous trees that block out all sunlight. It is one of my favorite summits, we sat and ate lunch in a silent beautiful mountaintop forest.

The AT headed towards Unaka Mtn.

WE hiked about 16.5 miles total today to get to greasy creek gap. The hostel was another six tenths of a mile off trail. AWOLs guide says go east on the jeep road. to the west there is a very distinct road bed, but to the east there is a campsite and some rhododendron. Rambo was hiking in front of us and missed the turn off. Mama Bear, Blink, Live, Halfmoon, Dan, and I venture off trail to where we hoped there would be friendlies. We all each considered heading back to the trail at some point on this spur trail. between the derelict building and garbage dumps, this didn't seem like the right place. sure enough we eventually came upon a bunkhouse with trekking poles outside it.

Greasy Creek Friendly

Since reading about this place in AWOL on the Appalachian Trail, the co-proprietor's husband has left and she is left working to try and buy him out. There is a crazy neighbor who seems to hate hikes, and probably just anyone in general and the two have been at war since the hostel opened. In truth both parties and a little mentally unstable, but there is nothing wrong with that, aren't we all a little crazy. Connie, the owner, sells smiley face stickers that you can immediately exchange for a beer or glass of wine, as long as you promise that you are of age. Her way of getting around liquor laws. I liked rockets approach of ignoring legality completely, but this is kinda fun. So I buy a couple beers and we sit out on the front porch cooking and eating and watch a thunderstorm come through. Good times are had by all.