After the Smokies we were really excited to be done with that section of our hike. The views were beautiful and we got fairly good weather, but it was really busy with day/section hikers. There was only a certain amount of tent spots at each shelter so we would have to get there at a reasonable time. Its really frowned upon by the Park Rangers to camp in spots outside of shelter areas. So now that we have moved on we can almost set up the tent wherever off the trail. We passed through Max Patch which is a beautiful grassy bald with 360 degree views. A few days ago there were trail rumors going around about a hiker feed going on at Brown Gap. It just so happened that's where LadyBug and I were going. We got there around 4pm and there it was, three tents set up with chairs, fruit, juices, sodas, cookies...We were happy with that then we heard dinner was in 2 hours. We set up our tent and ate the ham, salad and sweet potatoes. The next
morning we ate their breakfast, and were about to start hiking again. Then the guys called out Hey you guys aren't staying for cheeseburgers for lunch...So we stayed for lunch too and only did about 8 miles that day. The next day we were planning on getting as close to Hot Springs,
NC so we could do a "Nero" day (a few miles in the day so its not a zero). But we saw that there were free tenting spots in town so we pushed on hiking about 15 miles. So let me tell you, half way through that day LadyBug and I had a little scare. I was hiking probably 20 feet in front and saw a plastic bag in the trail. I stopped, picked it up, and turned to show LadyBug when all of a sudden a tree drops 5 feet in front of me onto the trail. Luckily it was a dead tree with no branches, so the telephone pole looking tree missed me. But overall It was a good day.
morning we ate their breakfast, and were about to start hiking again. Then the guys called out Hey you guys aren't staying for cheeseburgers for lunch...So we stayed for lunch too and only did about 8 miles that day. The next day we were planning on getting as close to Hot Springs,
NC so we could do a "Nero" day (a few miles in the day so its not a zero). But we saw that there were free tenting spots in town so we pushed on hiking about 15 miles. So let me tell you, half way through that day LadyBug and I had a little scare. I was hiking probably 20 feet in front and saw a plastic bag in the trail. I stopped, picked it up, and turned to show LadyBug when all of a sudden a tree drops 5 feet in front of me onto the trail. Luckily it was a dead tree with no branches, so the telephone pole looking tree missed me. But overall It was a good day.