Two days, 24 miles

Well last time I wrote I had an easy 3 mile hike downhill. Got to
Stover Creek Shelter at 1:30, decided to go the extra 5 miles up Hawk
Mountain. Got near the shelter, and people were putting up tents. I
was informed the shelter was full, so I had better do the same. Got
the tent set up, filtered water, cooked some noodles, tied up my food
to keep it away from bears and went to bed after a hard 12 mile hike.
Slept very well, am very pleased with my REI sleeping bag. Got up at
6:30, hit the trail at 9ish. About a mile in, came around a big tree
and ran into a man in a camo jacket taking a puff off a pipe of
marijuana. After an awkward silence, I told him not to stop on my
account, upon which he continued to smoke and introduced himself as
Holy Smoke( his trail name). We hiked the next 7 miles together, along
which he told me about a place called the Hiker's Hostel that had a
shuttle at Woody Gap, 5 miles from my intended destination Gooch
Mountain Shelter. I don't normally take advice from hippie potheads,
but a hot shower sounded too good to pass up, so after a pita bread
and cheese lunch, I hiked an extra 5 miles to Woody. It was brutal,
and I almost got religious when I heard cars. Took a 20 minute ride to
the hostel to find chickens and bees in front of a cabin. Had a
wonderful shower, ate some mac and cheese, and been talkin to a really
nice guy from Irwin, Tennessee that goes by the name of Tenderfoot. I
feel rejuvenated and plan on goin 10 miles to Neel's Gap tomorrow, in
the process summiting Blood Mountain. Will probably spend Tuesday in
Neel's Gap as a snow storm is comin in Tuesday. Allright, miss you all
and I will write again soon.
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