Hot Springs, Hot Coffee (Day 29)

I woke up this morning in Airbnb to the smell of bacon and eggs. It was another generous offering from my friend’s parents. I packed my bag and went down to have breakfast and orange juice. I knew I didn’t have a particularly long day of hiking ahead of me, but I still wanted to leave with plenty of time.

coffee stop

Before heading back into the woods, I stopped at the Hot Springs Welcome Center, then Artisun Gallery and Cafe for a vanilla latte. One thing I’ve been missing since starting the AT is definitely an occasional stop at a coffee shop. This particular cafe was so cute and charming. They sold ice cream, smoothies, and coffee, along with lots of cute trinkets and handmade gifts.

I bought a bead bracelet that says “Hot Springs Strong,” which supports their rebuilding fund. A painting hanging on the wall illustrated the flooding this store suffered due to Hurricane Helene. Before visiting here, I didn’t realize how small the town of Hot Springs really is. It makes their resilience in the face of such hardships even more inspiring.

The call of the forest

Around 10am, I was back in the woods. I spent a lot of time alone, enjoying the many views of Hot Springs and the warm spring weather. The French Broad River looked picturesque from above. Much of the day was spent climbing, with some interesting views along the way.

One of them was a monument in memory of a gentleman named Rex R. Pulford. I read online that he died at Hurricane Gap while attempting a hike in 1983. The online Appalachian Trail Museum has posted his journal entries from his time on the AT. I spent some time tonight reading them. It’s interesting to see how similar some of their experiences are to ours, even forty years later. I’m glad his voice can live on.

Brief storms

The forecast rain continued for most of the day. There was only a few showers during the hike and a brief downpour at camp. Unfortunately, my store chose that exact moment to collapse. Fortunately, I was able to keep most of the gear inside dry and reassembled it once the rain let up. Tonight I feel exhausted, although I’m not really sure why. Tomorrow is another day.

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