Reliving my worst day in history

Overland shelter barn nestled in the Highlands

April 29 last time I hiked was the coldest day probably in my life. It snowed, I’d sent home my cold weather gear, I was going over some of the most exposed highest elevation stuff on the trail, and was almost out of food (and was too cold to open it’s packaging or get water…dumb dumb Snorkel). This year, though, April 29th was great.I had a great view over Hump Mtn of Overmountain shelter and a nice (too long) cooking and coffee break in Apple Orchard shelter.

Jones Falls

I met Velvet at Jones Falls and we had a nice conversation and then it was a not bad walk into Kincora. It reminded me of the miles I busted from Overmountain shelter to Kincora in 2008—my desperate last ditch effort to get food and prevent myself from dying.

Sign for Biscuit

In 2008, when I pulled in late, someone offered me a steak. This time, I pulled in late and got offered pizza by Red Stripe (who is from Asheville but drinks Red Stripe???) Bob Peoples was there was there (think I missed him for some reason in 2008), and was a cheery as one can imagine, and Baltimore Jack was there, too! What a fantastic place…in 2008 and now!

Around here, there is a bench in memory of a former hiker looking out at this beautiful spring view