Here’s a new hiker term for you. Slackpacking. It’s when you leave all unnecessary gear behind, usually at a hostel, and either hike forward and get shuttled back. Or shuttle forward and hike back. 

That’s what I did today. Mike shuttled me forward about 12 miles and I hiked back to Erwin. Southbound on the AT. Truth is South was a much easier hike than climbing North. I only carried food, water, and essentials. If only my pack were always that light. 

This was all arranged due to impending heavy rains. In fact the last hour of hiking was in a steady rain. That was the calm before the storm. Right now it’s pouring!  I am sure happy to be in a nice cabin for the night. 

The opportunity arose to slackpack 8 miles tomorrow. I passed because it is supposed to rain, and rain, and rain. I’ll just wait a day deal with the trail conditions. 

Mike and Peggy invited us hikers over to their house tonight.  Peggy made peach cobbler and shared her homemade mead. Made from the honey produced by their bees. It was a great evening. I enjoyed their hospitality. 

So it’s off to bed. The sound of rain bouncing off the roof. Thankfully not the sound of rain on my tent.