Day 32, Wednesday March 31, 2021

   

Job 1 - 4

Stealth campsite to Uncle Johnny’s Hostel- 2 miles - Total AT miles hiked - 344.3.

Short hiking day today as we headed into Erwin, TN to hunker down for a couple of days as some nasty weather passes.  We struck camp before the sun was fully up, and hiked down off of the mountain and into Johnny’s hostel.  We had secured a 2 person cabin for two nights until the sub freezing temperatures and snowy conditions passed. 

We made it to the hostel before 9 and caught their shuttle into town, since our “cabin” (really just a set of bunk beds in a shed) wasn’t ready yet.  We had breakfast at McDonalds, as they surprisingly did not have a local diner of any sort available.  After breakfast we stopped at the post office to pick up a couple of packages, and then stopped in Walgreens and the grocery store for a few supplies.  Then it was the hostel shuttle back to Uncle Johnny’s to check in.

The afternoon was spent doing laundry, showering (a hot shower is such a luxury now!), and reorganizing gear.  At 4:30, the shuttle again took us to another part of town where dinner options and the local Walmart is located.  We opted for Italian and I enjoyed a lasagna.  Two other senior hikers joined us for dinner (part of the large over 55 contingent currently in the bubble we are part of).  After dinner, a run through Walmart for additional food resupply and then back to the hostel to call it a night.

Tomorrow we’ll visit the local outfitter to see about some potential equipment updates.  My sleeping pad has sprung a leak and I may have to replace it if the patch job I did today doesn’t hold.  Tomorrow will tell the tale.

Until next time...