(3/18) Pushing to Zero

     After Fresh Grounds fed us last night we went to bed contentedly but damp from the rain and fog. I didn’t sleep well at first but around 11 pm I fell asleep and didn’t wake up again until 6:45 am. It feels great to sleep for almost 7 hours straight.

     We packed up our wet tents and went over to Fresh Grounds who had already cooked us a breakfast of bacon, eggs, potatoes, sausages, and toast. We talked with another through hiker named Gung Ho, who served as a marine and attempted a through hike last year before an injury took him off trail. 

     Pretty soon we were back to hiking. It was a relatively easy day, but we have learned to never underestimate the Appalachian Trail. We climbed up Little Hump which had a grassy bald peak. However, we couldn’t see any of the views around us due to some very heavy wind and fog. The fog was so thick that there was condensation forming on my eye lashes and the hair on my arms. 

     After Little Hump we climbed Big Hump Mountain, the last point in the Roan Highlands and the last mountain in North Carolina. We crossed out of our second state for the last time.

     From Big Hump we descended the last five miles down to the highway (19e) where Tyler’s dad picked us up. He took us out to dinner at a pizza place in Tennessee after we went back to the house where we will be staying. It will be great to take a zero and resupply in a full-on grocery store. I look forward to sleeping in a real bed.

Goodnight.

Walker

Check out Tyler’s blog too- https://tylerat2020.blogspot.com/?m=1