Today we are in Hot Springs, NC. Mile 274 on the AT. We took a zero day here yesterday to soak in the city's namesake and eat eat eat. We are trying to keep it sleazy by camping in free places near towns instead of in hotels or hostels, but it's difficult not to buy all of the food on the menu every time we eat in a restaurant. We hiked 18 miles in hail and rain to get here, and promptly went to a tavern still trail dirty and wet. I ate nachos, fried pickles, a veggie burger, chili cheese fries, and 2 beers for dinner. Beautiful. I could probably write my entire blog about all of the food we dream about while we're hiking. My parents made my dreams come true by mailing no bake cookies (thanks mom!) and pickles, peanut butter, jelly, and other treats. (Thanks dad and Melissa!)
The Smokies were prefaced by Fontana Dam, a giant dam that makes a giant beautiful lake that we had the pleasure of paddle boarding on one morning and swimming in several times. We had a hard time tearing ourselves away from it, despite the fact that we had our first angry hillbilly on a horse with a golf club encounter here. Someone "went on his property and scared his wife." They do exist! 
The next morning we woke up before sunrise and hiked to the start of Great Smoky Mountains National Park after a painful goodbye to the dogs. They had to be boarded for the week at a hostel we hiked to at the other end of the park because no pets are allowed on nps backcountry land. The first day in, the weather was beautiful. Then I jinxed the rest of the week by saying "I imagined it would be rainy and cold every day we were here!" The only day it didn't rain and it was above 60 degrees serendipitously happened to be the day that we hiked to the highest point on the entire AT. We woke up at 4:30 and hiked to the top of Clingmans Dome to witness the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen. I'm not a morning person at all, but it was worth it. There are so many different flowers, trees, and animals in the park. I finally saw a bear! Or at least it's ass as it ran into the forest because I startled it on accident as I was coming up a side trail from fetching some water. 
Now that we have the dogs back we probably won't be seeing very many large animals except for them. We are putting in longer days now that we have our trail legs and the terrain is starting to level out a little more, so we are looking forward to mile 300 in two days. 
The next morning we woke up before sunrise and hiked to the start of Great Smoky Mountains National Park after a painful goodbye to the dogs. They had to be boarded for the week at a hostel we hiked to at the other end of the park because no pets are allowed on nps backcountry land. The first day in, the weather was beautiful. Then I jinxed the rest of the week by saying "I imagined it would be rainy and cold every day we were here!" The only day it didn't rain and it was above 60 degrees serendipitously happened to be the day that we hiked to the highest point on the entire AT. We woke up at 4:30 and hiked to the top of Clingmans Dome to witness the most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen. I'm not a morning person at all, but it was worth it. There are so many different flowers, trees, and animals in the park. I finally saw a bear! Or at least it's ass as it ran into the forest because I startled it on accident as I was coming up a side trail from fetching some water. 
Now that we have the dogs back we probably won't be seeing very many large animals except for them. We are putting in longer days now that we have our trail legs and the terrain is starting to level out a little more, so we are looking forward to mile 300 in two days. 
ATTN: someone make me a trail star please.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HCRR5LQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1400426259&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40
And locate me a hot pink biketard. I met a grandma hiking in one of these (but blue) and immediately became insanely jealous. I need to one-up this broad.
My next location will be this address in about 5 days.
Attn: Hold for thru hiker Hancock
151 River Road
Erwin, TN 37650
Or in about a week
Attn: hold for thru hiker Hancock
1827 Greasy Creek Road
Bakerville, NC 28705
If anyone sends anything (letters, cookies, biketards, bills, hostage letters, a swift kick in the pants, large sums of money, etc) just send me a text or a Facebook message and let me know so I know to pick it up!
I love my friends and family and I miss you all.
So good to hear from you again Amanda! Sounds like you're having a ball! Will try to get a package off to you! Will text you and let you know where!
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