I had another lovely night on the ground. I am glad I explored and experimented with it; ground dwelling has some advantages, such as lighter pack weight and easy set-up. However, I am definitely not ready to give up my hammock just yet! Although my hammock kit adds an additional pound over the ground sleeping set-up, I think my hammock is much more comfortable, and I appreciate the saddlebag storage and roomy bug net. I think 16 ounces is a small price to pay for the additional comfort.
GG and I are up at first light, eating and packing very quickly. We backtrack to the AT and walk to the base of the falls, where we pick our way over the stream. Within 30 minutes we are at Dickey Gap. I turn off airplane mode on my phone, hoping we can call Cole for a pickup, but of course there is zero service here. We start the three mile walk to the truck. Thankfully it's downhill. Unfortunately, this road doesn't really have a shoulder, and the strip of grass between the road and a drop off is only feet wide in some spots. Semi-trucks whiz by at alarming speeds, as do a number of pickup trucks. No one stops to ask if we want a ride, but that is okay; we only have an hour walk to town.
We are halfway there when a car passes us going the opposite direction. It looks like Cole. I can't ask GG because she is up ahead. A few minutes later, the car returns and pulls off on the edge of the road. Cole jumps out! He says a friend of his gave him a call to say two older lady backpackers were walking down the road. I guess everyone in town knows about the crazy women hiking around the highlands in the bad weather!
TTFN!
Today's stats: One embarrassing mile, 151 feet gain, 150 feet loss
Trail Stats: 520 miles, 130K feet gain
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