Day 39 - 9th May, 2010 - Deep Gap to Greasy Gap - 12.2 miles

An interesting walk through valleys and ridges on a benched trail. We meet Food Network [we last saw him in the Smokies about to go to town to buy new boots]. He is doing the same slackpack that Stickbuilt and Tater Chip did yesterday, so he is heading south and travelling fast back to Erwin. We never see him again, which is sad as we really enjoyed his company in the shelters in the Smokies and we don't know whether he made it to the end or not. Following Crafty's trail journal, we find out that she walks with him for quite a while on the trail.

The trail goes through an old historic pioneer apple orchard, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is planting new 'old apple varieties' to fill the gaps, to make sure that the orchard continues to exist. It is a wonderful place and we wish that we had camped here, amidst the meadow with flowers, bees, and spend a bit of the warm sunny afternoon relaxing here.

Pioneer apple orchard

Alas we continue on and decide to drop off the trail at Greasy Creek Gap to stay in a hostel 0.6 miles below the ridge. It kills us to descend so steeply knowing that we will have to reclimb it tomorrow.

The Greasy Gap hostel is an acquired taste and we don't acquire it. It is run by Connie - it is her home, and the hikers take it over, lolling around in her lounge watching DVDs etc. To survive this onslaught she has lots of 'rules'. We stay in a bedroom in the house and she cooks us pizza and eggs for breakfast. We feel uncomfortable here - Connie is working herself to the bone for little return, and many hikers are happy to take advantage of her good nature. Her trail name is CC(Cook and Clean). She tries to survive by making 'rules'. I am not surprised to find some of these hikers are our 'night stalkers'. Her breakfast organisation is very slow and the pricing structure means there is little profit in it for her.