Enter the green dragon – the walk

«The road continues and continues
Below the door where it started.
Now, far ahead, the road is gone,
And I must continue, if I can,
Chase him with anxious feet,
Until it joins a bigger path
Where there are many roads and errands.
And where? I can’t say. «
~ Jrr Tolkien

In «The Fellowship of the Ring», the first book of the Lord of the Rings of Tolkien (where my birth name was derived!), The hobbits and Aragorn suffer many difficulties along the way. After being defeated by the weather, fatigue, injury and a ringwraith or nine, they reach Rivendell’s refuge, where Lord Elrond and elves tend to their ills and provide them with fresh clothes, sustenance, rest and healing. They also know many others and form a scholarship to travel along the way together in the future. Dragon Green hostel was in every way my Rivendell, not only by his name derived from Tolkien and multiple nodes of Easter eggs to the Lotr series, but also because it was a place of rest, healing, nutrition and satisfactory camaraderie of the soul.

I can’t even with this place … *Cry with joy *

The owners Donna & Bill, along with the Nimrod staff member, are some of the best people I have met not only on the way, but anywhere. In his Justo Hostal also lies two adorable cat cats, and the famous «Bricky», which was transported the entire length of the AT in 2024.

The infamous brick !!!

«For all your emergency hiking brick needs» 🤣

I will come clean right now and admit that I stayed a whole week in the green dragon! It may seem a bit extra, but this was during the weekend of Mother’s Day, I was waiting for a very late daughter’s package, and I needed to navigate in the publication of my first blog post. I walked as much as I could during my stay, I took a couple of very necessary zeros and I had more adventures I could tell. Here are some outstanding aspects:

Many meetings and preparing!

It is quite common on the way to meet with the same people in the shelters, and this was no exception here. I also met many new acquaintances and it turned out that some of them were quite consummated musicians. We had two days of performances and songs, including Donna playing the entire «American Pie» on their guitar. Many shelters keep instruments by hand and many even have areas specifically designed for jam sessions. The shelters are really similar to the inns along the roads and roads of yesteryear, where tired travelers rested and enjoyed some entertainment. Several of us also venture to Hiawassee beer with its sparkling local beer tanks and exquisite meals. A blues band played one night, and I got my rhythm of singing to the songs of Elmore James, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more. Towards the end of my stay, I met someone who would be a prominent member of my family of trails and an appreciated travel companion. Ash entered the shelter in search of everyone as an elf was instantly recognized by me as an related spirit. Nerd people always seem to know when we are in the presence of our species!

Ash & Owlet. In Ash’s Pack lies a pet dragon!

A slack package is kind to your back!

After my first full day with a very necessary zero (one day you don’t spend miles), I made three days of loose packages (taking only what you need for the day). I even got on Mother’s Day! These were mostly pleasant and without drama with the habitual ups and beauty scenes around each curve. The spring flowers began to abound everywhere and never met a beautiful one who did not make me stop and contemplate admirally and perhaps take a click. I also did it and I still observed this ritual where I thank any rock or talled tree where I rest. I can’t hurt the forest and mountain spirits on your side!

A borrowed clearance package of the green dragon, art and APT runa included!

I break for the flowers !!!

Naked and without fear

On day five after relatively short and moderately challenging walks, it was time to face Tray Mountain! I got it in my head, I could take the 14 miles (south) in a source of waves, but Donna tenumed my expectations with a little real talk and we understood what I am calling a «half package.» I took enough to make it necessary, I could spend the night in my store or a shelter. Thank God for his wise advice, because I barely put my feet on the path of what opened the heavens and began to see himself. We are talking about wicked torrents of rain. I ran about 10 miles and reached the base of Tray Mountain before deciding to call it. The shelter was too far uphill, there was an ideal hidden camp right next to the path, and I was beat. I settled in the rain and crashed, just to be awakened by Booms of Thunder and ray flashes. The mountain storms are a special race, since the Thunder Reverbera around them and sounds to everyone, such as giants fighting or throwing rocks (or both). Now I apologize if this is an overvalt, but this is a blog about the real life of hikers, and since then I have confirmed that I am far from being alone. The hikers refer to themselves as «sleeping cold» or «sleeping hot», and falling in the last category, I had slept without a stitch of clothes. When the storm woke me up, I had to urinate, and since it was half the night and I had the little perfect camp without a neighbor in sight, I did my business in the rain as naked as the day I was born. I’m not going to lie, he felt a little primitive and powerful.

The next morning, I discovered that he had made more than the correct call on stopping while he knew some of the eight men who had slept in the shelter of the six -people tray mountain to take refuge from the elements. As a gentleman expressed, «we were packed as a laces wood. They were all guys; a true sausage festival!» Perhaps more descriptive than I needed, but thank God I dodged that scenario. And Donna extended the icing on my proud solo hiker cake when he added «all those guys hid and you were eating that disaster and did well!» In a final triumph, my delay in the top allowed the weather to clarify and gave me some good views from the top of the tray. Unlike the upper part of the Calds, many of the narrow and wind mountain summits through trees, shrubs and rocks. Then there is that magical moment in which a small side path to a rocky outcrop runs to contemplate the wonder of a view that he has won with his sweat and suffering.

A path flooded after the storm.

The happy, proud, well rested and FESE!

The collection of my mountain search was a completely different saga, since I discovered that the storm of the previous day had talked a large tree on the service road where Bill would look for me. Thanks to the efforts of some local boys with Sierras and Bill’s trusted chainsaw, he saved me from having to walk forward (and painfully ascending) to a place of collection to many miles to the south.

Fond Leadings and Forever Friends

Unfortunately, the day came when I left this beloved address and the people who had come to worship there. As Bill joked «if he stayed for a longer time, we would have had to add it to our insurance!» During my stay, I had dinner like a queen, an improved team as a trail chief, has spoiled me with a care package for the mother’s day of my dear daughter, I made fabulous friends, won Nimrod wisdom and my hosts, and knocked up 22.5 miles of trail. To this day, Donna still reviews my progress and encourages me.

Me and my dear Donna

The wise and wonderful ticket, exploitation murderer

There is a home shelter,
In the Justo Valle de Hiawassee,
Where can you rest
Measure and wash your clothes
It is a very good house in fact
With two cats in the patio
I met an elf high there,
And not less than three bards!
The second breakfast is recommended
And for all those looking for refuge
You don’t have to call them
Talk friend and enter! 🐉

This website contains affiliate links, which means that the walk can receive a percentage of any product or service that you buy using the links in the items or ads. The buyer pays the same price that would do it differently, and his purchase helps to support the continuous objective of the walk to address his quality backpack advice and information. Thanks for your support!

For more information, visit the page about this site.