Good-bye Smokies

Wednesday, April 27, 2011  Day 39

So the boys are out of the Smokies!  After leaving Gatlinburg they muddled through the last 30+ miles of the Smokies; Ben with a bum knee and Tom wanting to put more miles under their boots.  When they arrived at the eastern boundary of the Smokies the boys were welcomed with a "hiker feed".  Veggie burgers, tomatoes, lettuce, poptarts, Snicker bars, etc.  Hearing Tom tell the story of the hiker feed was like remembering him unwrapping Christmas presents when he was a little boy.  He was thrilled and grateful and hungry for some fresh food!  They finished this remote section of the trail on Easter Sunday and spent the night at the Standing Bear Farm Hiker Hostel.  We had been expecting a call from them when they arrived at the hostel but finally gave up and called the owners.  They told us to call back in 10 minutes because he would have to go out in the bunkhouse and see if the boys were out there.  He said he had about 30 guys in the bunkhouse and/or camping in the yard.  It's the busy season along the AT.  The next day found Ben feeling horrible.  He just was achy and miserable and his knee was killing him.  We asked if he wanted to come home.  His response was NO, he was having too much fun! He just wanted to rest his knee a bit.   Apparently the boys were able to negotiate a work for pay option with the hostel owner and they stayed another night.  They did some small chores and Tom helped to transplant a tree.  They left the Standing Bear Hostel on Tuesday morning and are heading towards Hot Springs, NC.  They arrived tonight (Wed.) at the Walnut Mountain Shelter which makes their total miles hiked at 258.7 miles! 

They are now hiking along the North Carolina and Tennessee Border.  It seems that some days they are in one state and the next day in another and occasionally hiking through both states in one day.  This section of the trail is 153.6 miles long. 

Today also had Tom calling home to let us know that he needs a new pair of hiking boots!