3/22 Pig Pen Returns and Trail Magic

A really cool day today on the A.T.   Dan got back on the trail after a much needed day off to rest a sore knee.  He really should have taken another day off, but he promised to take it easy and do low mileage the next couple of days.  Kara went with us to see him off, but she probably won't get back on the trail until Dan gets past the Smokies, since she's not allowed in there anyway.   Robin and I took him back to Hog Pen Gap and then passed on some "trail magic" to the hikers as they passed by.  Trail Magic is any form of unexpected aid that a hiker receives.  It's mostly food and drinks, but it can be anything from giving them a ride into town to offering them a place to stay and shower for a day.  Robin baked up a huge batch of brownies and we took boxes of Little Debbies, cases of Powerade, and  a cooler of water so they wouldn't have to filter.  It's really amazing how much a powerade and a homemade brownie can lift up a tired hiker's spirits.  We met people from all over the USA and a group from Germany.  One group in particular was really inspirational. They were a group of veterans participating in the "Warrior Hike."  The warrior hike is a program designed to support wounded veterans transitioning from military service by hiking the Appalachian Trail.  They are "walking off the war."   There were two different groups of them that came by, about 10 altogether, but I don't know how large the total group was.  We really enjoyed talking to them and thanked each one for their service to our country.  You can check out their website at  http://warriorhike.com/.  It was really one of my best days on the trail and I didn't even hike.  



Dan heading out of Hog Pen Gap



Waiting with magic on the first hikers





Warrior Hikers !




Our new friends from Germany !



More Warrior Hikers
(man standing to right is Sean Gobin, co-founder of the Warrior Hike)