Night Seven – Nine – Holiday Inn Express Hiawassee

Leaving Trey Mountain Shelter and dealing with what was turning into a slushy muddy mess on my way to Dick’s Creek Gap took its toll. It was bound to happen eventually, but I figured I would get a bit farther before the second guessing and self doubt started to creep in. I had expected to be clearing more miles per day, to not be waking up in the morning feeling like I had been hit by a truck. Everything is starting to hurt. My big toes have gone weirdly numb. My ankles, knees, and hips hurt from the constant almost slips and various contortions I have done to keep myself upright. And I have been starting to wonder if it would be better to stop now instead of languish along for another 50-100 miles before throwing in the towel. But I told myself before I left not to quit on a bad day, and if I feel like giving up get off the trail for a few days, rest, recover, and make that decision once I’ve had a hot shower, a hot meal, and slept in a bed.

Getting a ride from Dick’s Creek Gap wasn’t the easiest thing. The parking lot is kinda on a bend in the road so it doesn’t give a driver much time to see you and pull over. With no cell service my only option was hitch or walk. After 10 minutes of thumbing it unsuccessfully I finally decided to just walk the 7 miles or so into town and keep trying as I went. Thankfully I didn’t end up walking too far before two girls from a local college saw me and although there was no place to pull over right away they pulled over up the road and waited for me. I can’t describe how much relief I felt getting into a car with two friendly people and their cute dog. To sit in a cushioned seat. We chatted about the trail as they drove me into Hiawassee, and some of the books they had read about people’s hikes. And even though it’s a bit more expensive of an option I had them drop me at the Holiday Inn Express (because I really like the bath products they have and I was looking for comfort anywhere I could find it).

All in all I spent three nights and two zero days there. I struggled a lot with if I should continue. I went through the contents of my pack and tried to find things I could trim down to lower my weight. I called my family and and my second cousin who had thru-hiked the AT years ago. As the pain of the past few days started to fade it was replaced by hope that I actually could do this. Logical me had known before I left that weather was likely going to pose some extra challenges and that it might boot me off the trail for a few days. Emotional me had forgotten that and had internalized the slow progress as a failing to do as well as I had wanted.

So with my zero days I ordered some replacements for things that would be lighter weight and had my mom mail me a package to Franklin NC. I got a chance to chat and get to know the staff at the Holiday Inn (Ron and Judy, thanks for all your kind words, and thanks to the rest of the wonderful people who were so friendly to me there). I had officially gotten myself out of my funk and was ready to hit the trail again.