It's Hard to Stay Warm in Wet Clothes
Day 24 of the Trail: 17.5 miles hiked
We were slow getting up this morning and all our clothes were still wet from the day before. Best way to dry them is put them on and hike in them. All the activity and body heat will dry them out fast enough. The only problem is staying warm in wet clothes till you actually start to hike. Sometimes things just suck but it has to be done.
We hit the trail by 8 am and the sun was shining beautifully! The Smokies is a bipolar mistress, I am convinced. She welcomes you one day then unleashes wrath the next, and on our way out of the park things are beautiful and peaceful as if this temptress doesn't want us to leave. It's almost a dare to stay. No thanks, Smokies, Maine is calling and I have to keep moving.
Funny thing about leaving one section or what I call sections, maybe more like small parts of the trail, you typically leave going down to a gap and the hike is comfortable. Then, as soon as you move onto the next, like leaving the Smokies and starting the next part, there is always a strong up hill. The same was true coming out of the NOC, or going into the Smokies. It's like a screening test to make sure you are worthy to move on. Today's test was a 5 mile uphill that wore us out, partly because we had already done 10 miles before starting.
All is well though. Tomorrow we hit Max Patch and rest at a lodge Warrior Hike lined up for us. Then onto Hot Springs!
