Mom sure sounds like she is having fun...Mad Hatter, mud bording, Hebrew...what next? As I understand it she and K-bar came off the trail just before the GA state border to go to the hiking "party" in Franklin, NC. They have returned to where they left off and have the feat of hiking the tallest mountain in the Smokies this week.Breathe Mom breathe...
Saw this picture this morning of the Great Smokies, I can't believe that this is what she is waking up to as we speak.
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My son and I met yesterday with Nature ( that is what she is called on the trail as they do not use proper names) and K Bar. They were rested and very anxious to get back to hiking on the trail. Yes, we were in NC and so were both of them, however, when a hiker comes off the trail to attend a week end AT Hikers Event it usually is held away from the trail. This part of the trail has little to offer in the way of motels and even towns. It is sort of like nothing land, but mountains and trees. So the hikers are picked up at different points on the trail and taken to where they are all going to meet. Many of them were taken off trail in Ga., so therefore had to be taken back to the point that they came off the trail and hike the area and or miles that they missed when coming off. Hope this makes sense to those reading this post as I was confused and I was there with them. lol This does not mean that they went back to the beginning of the trail in Ga. just back to the point that they came off the trail for the AT get together. As I have said the Hikers are a family that take care of one another and get rides to places and back to the trail. Word seems to travel from Hiker to Hiker as to where to meet and get a ride. Nature tells me that there are people with cars that are in the places as per arranged to take any and or all hikers to where they are meeting up. All this without the use of cell phones as they do not work in the mountains. The girls are hoping to reach Fontana Dam by next Sunday. My son and I will go get them and bring them to my home for an over night treat. They have some hard climbing to do to reach Fontana Dam as they are going up just over one mile high. It is the highest part of the Smokie Mountains. All those weeks of Shelly and Nature drying meals, has been wonderful. Nature shared it one night with a rather large group of hikers and they all loved it and think she is very lucky to have such fine food on the Trail. Some of the younger guys are hiking with their dogs. Can you imagine carrying your own food along with food for your pet dog? My son and I are so happy and glad we are able to share this with Nature.
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Tuesday am. According to the local news they did not get the amount of snow that was predicted for the area that they are hiking. Note I did not say that they did not get a dusting. lol From my front windows I can see the Smokies and there was not enough snow for me to see any white. That is a good thing for the girls.
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I just got off the phone with Nature. They hiked back into Franklin NC last night as it was 10 and snowing. Way to cold to be in a stone shelter with just 3 walls. She is doing great and ready to start the highest part of the Smokies today. She expects to be on target for me to pick her up on Sunday, Easter, to bring them for an over night to my home. I have lots and lots of heat to offer. By Sunday the weather here will be back to the low 70's again. The girls will get to see some of the country off trail when I pick them up this week. I will have to run what is known as the "Dragons Trail." It is a road that is known all over the world. 311 curves in 11 miles and it only goes up and more up. Motorcyclest run it and try to beat others times while doing it. So you usually have a motorcycle coming at you laid down around each cornor. My husband and I drove it several years ago in mid summer and so it was very busy. With a bit of luck this coming week end, not many will be doing it. Nature is so very happy doing this hike and seems to be in her element.
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As many of you may know, both Donna and my home were in the paths of the very bad storms that went thru Tn. yesterday. My home had only a part of a big tree come down and it missed all buildings etc. Donna was on the trail, heading for the mouth of the Smokies which is the "Nantahala Outdoor Center." They had high winds and sheets of rain, but when she called me they were all safe and sound in what she called a cabin. 3 floors of bedrooms, heat, hot water a washer and dryer, which allowed them all to have dry cloths etc. It had been a very hard hike for the past 2 days. She and K-bar have now gotten a young man called Cloud that is hiking with the ladies. My son and I will now be going to Fontana Dam ( which is past the Dragons Trail) on Monday and bring the 3 of them to my home for an over night and some fine dining. Fresh fruit, veggies and dip, Strawberry Shortcake and KFC. On Tuesday April 14 we will take them back to the AT and they plan on hiking the rest of the Smokies.
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