AT Happiness: Trail Suprises
The AT is full of surprises. I’ve ended up hiking with the brother of someone I went to law school with 25 years ago completely by accident. There are of course unexpected vistas and tucked away spots. My favorite, a rural church, was a covered picnic area a tenth of a mile off of the trail. I ate a peaceful and wonderful lunch there on a sunny afternoon.
Photo by Shaggy Hobo
I’ve gotten lost three times so far and once found a heart shaped lichen on a tree (similar to the moss one in the picture above), second time I found an old grave yard where the most recent burial was 1900. Yesterday we also came upon the wonderful old dam in the picture above.
The boys at Hemlock Hollow
Today we found Mom’s Store, a perfect hiker stop two hours in and only 100 feet off of the trail. While there we learned a storm was coming in and that there was a hostel just up the trail a bit. Throw in the chance to slack pack 20 miles tomorrow and the rain starting and here we are at Hemlock Hollow having a happy day my friends. – Rev Kane
The Ministry of Happiness 