Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello all! I'm currently at "Standing Bear Farm Hostel" in NC, maybe a couple of miles north of the Great Smokies National Park! Took a couple days of hiking in the snow to get here from Hot Springs and one very cold 25 degree night in one of the older shelters I've stayed in thus far (that came standardly stocked with a few mice scurrying around and chewing on the shelter all night). Was thankful to be borrowing Cold Feet's mummy bag instead of using my quilt - warm enough, but when it gets this cold, the full mummy coverage is very welcome.

So yeah, anyone who's been keeping up with this here blog has undoubtedly noticed the reoccurying Cold Feet name. Dare I say that I've managed to find myself a trail romance?!? Definitely never expected it, even if it has been know to happen. But so yeah, it's true. I'm getting a taste of yet another aspect of what this trail can offer - if one is just sooo lucky ;) I'm lovin' it :)

Have to say that I really did expect to be done by now. But hanging out and getting to know Cold Feet(Jennifer) has been too good and I'll never regret taking the time to slow down and "smell the roses". Yeah, I'm facing some cold temps and winter conditions as a result and it's pretty intimidating, but I'm also looking forward to the experience.

I have a feeling the last couple of weeks out here after I get back on the trail after Thanksgiving are going to be a challenge. I've been spending alot of nights indoors at hostels hanging out and it feels like it's made me a little soft. Nevermind how cold it's getting which is hard as it is. Hiking is no problem really. It's just the time between arriving at a shelter and getting into the sleeping bag (unpacking, putting on warm clothes getting/treating water, cooking, eating, hanging food, etc), and the time between getting out of the bag and getting going again (eating b'fast, hitting up the privy, taking off warm clothes!, and packing up). I'm also really ready to be done with the hike. I'm still having fun..... but I'm ready to be done. On top of all of that, there's a very real feeling that with all the goofing off I've been doing, I've seriously lost a huge momentum I'd had going. I'm not sure I can really explain what that means... but it's real. But again, not only do I not regret my decisions (you hear that CF!?! ;), but I'm really actually thankful for the challenge that it presents and the chance to experience yet another aspect of the trail that I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise. People have to pull off the trail for periods of time for any number of reasons and now I have a little taste of what trying to get going again is like.

But I'm looking forward to spending my Thanksgiving with Cold Feet :) and, hahaha, while I wait for another pair of shoes because one of my shoes sorta began to melt here at this hostel after some guys began feeding a woodburning heater they were on while I wasn't watching! Meanwhile I'll be both dreading and looking forward to heading back out, beginning with the Smokies (highest point on the trail). Cold nights, trails of snow/ice, loss of momentum, tired of being on the trail, spoiled by hostels/towns, and temporarily leaving the embrace of a new, fun, warm, and exciting relationship... hmmm.. think I can? Yeah, despite all the times I've entertained the thought of calling it quits (I can admit to it), I'm still pretty sure I'm up to challenge.

But it's also going to be good.. I'm walking home and I can feel how close I'm getting. I've got the beauty of the Smokies to look forward to. I've got home to look forward to. I've got my friends and family to look forward to. I've got Cold Feet to look forward to. And I've got successfully completing this thru-hike to look forward to.

When you compare the summits that mark the end points of the trail, Springer really doesn't physically compare to Katahdin. I think anyone would rather have the drama of being able to see Katahdin off in the distance as you make your approach towards it, rather save one of the toughest climbs on the trail for last, rather have the breath-taking 360 degree views that comes from being above treeline, rather take the victory picture next to that icon of a wooden summit sign declaring the mileages of distances covered, rather have a mountain closure date to beat, etc, etc.... Springer is none of this... it's just another climb... and not even a big one at that - my parents did it with me last year... a small view from atop an exposed slab of rock... not even an especially great one either. I really remember wishing I could see the Atlanta skyline somewhere off in the distance... but no dice.

But I tell ya what... it's the end. It's the culmination of an incredible journey. It's still a point to stop and reflect on the journey. And that's really what it's all about. Not where you are, but where you've been, who you've gotten to know, and how you got there.

I can't wait. :)