Insights and stories from our chat and visit with Drew, a hiker on the Appalachian Trail, Spring 2021.

This spring Chris and I had the pleasure of hosting an Appalachian Trail hiker at The Bear Den Chatuge for a night of rest! I knew that we were close to several of the AT Trail Heads but I had no idea where they were or how conveniently we are located. We picked Drew up at The Unicoi Gap, about 20 - 25 minutes from The Bear Den Chatuge. *See more about Unicoi gap below. Once we hugged, said our hellos and had a few pic’s, we quickly hopped in the car and our first stop was for an ice cold Coca Cola, followed by a quick run into Ingles for some Mio Drops (rehydration drops) and Epson Bath Salts (Epson salts for the planned spa like bath to soak weary feet in our tub). After a nice hot bath, we had a chance to catch up with Drew and learn about his experiences so far hiking the 61 miles from the official start of the AT to where we picked him up.

About Drew

First, a little bit about Drew. He is 21 years old and has dreamed of hiking the AT since he participated in a boy scout camping trip around 10 years old. That trip fueled his sense of adventure and his love of outdoor living. Drew earned his Eagle Scout in January 2018 and has been planning this trip nearly as long! He has worked at Chick Fil-A for the last several years and has saved money in order to finance his trip and pay for all the gear. He has budged approximately $1000-1200 per month for every day he is gone … approx. $7200 plus the cost of all his gear!! He is an incredibly smart, determined, kind and thoughtful young man and it was a joy to see him reaching for and living his dream.

What’s in Drews REI Backpack?

REI Backpack plus the badge that was created on a 3d printer!

In hearing about the massive amounts of gear and the expensive costs associated with hiking paraphernalia, I asked him about his most important piece of gear. Without hesitation he said his eno hammock set up. While it is little heavier than a tent, it is a lot more versatile because there are options like an underquilt, rain fly and a bug net, all of which he uses and sets up as needed. Drew typically ends his hiking day around 3:30 so he has daylight left to set up his hammock. At this point in the day he is reduced to “a blob of slime” and is fast asleep by 9 p.m., affectionally known as “hiker midnight”.

His Favorite Experiences on the Appalachian Trail

61 miles into his hike and we picked him up at Unicoi Gap for a night of rest, food and sleep before more hiking. Drew slept for 11 hours!!

Drew has met some amazing people on his journey and has really enjoyed the tradition of trail names. Everyone is given a trail name which is chosen for you by other hikers. There is always a story to tell surrounding these and Drew’s Trail Name is Pizza Guy. While at Neels Gap, he purchased a very expensive pizza and it proceeded to fall on the ground…because it was so expensive and budgets are tight, he used the five second rule and dusted it off then ate his dinner. Pizza guy was born. ;) One of his favorite meals that he carries in his backpack is the Mountain House Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, a freeze dried backpacking meal. It is pricy but very good. Also, on the several occasions where he has stayed in town, he claims that the best restaurant is always the one closest to the hotel or one that delivers to the hotel. :)

Trail Magic on the Appalachian Trail. What is it?

Fresh Ground and his Leapfrog Cafe. Image courtesy of Thetrek.co Blog Post

Another awesome part of this experience for Drew is learning about Trail Boxes and Trail Angels… otherwise termed “Trail Magic”. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy describes Trail Magic as:

“Finding what you need most when you least expect it.
Experiencing something rare, extraordinary, or inspiring in nature.
Encountering unexpected acts of generosity, that restore one’s faith in humanity.”

“Trail Angel” is a term of endearment given to someone who has provided trail magic in the form of direct kindness and generosity to hikers… things like leaving drinks or snacks at trail crossings, giving hikers a ride into town, restocking trail boxes with things like Mio, drip drop, lunch packets of tuna, carabiners, moleskin, bandages, antiseptic cream, sunscreen, toilet paper, ducktape or even a 1/2 empty canister of gas. There are well known trail angels who set up tables at various locations on the trail and pass out coffee, food, drinks, soup and words of encouragement.

BEST outdoor store and located in Hiawassee GA.

Read about Trail Angel Fresh Ground and his Leapfrog Cafe and his amazing story. There are as many different forms of trail angels and trail magic as there are people and imaginations. However, it would be inappropriate to mention all these things without a word of caution as sometimes acts of generosity can have unintended negative consequences so please read this blog post for more information. I fully intend on providing a little of my own Trail Magic for thru hikers by leaving things in the trail box outside of Trailful Outdoor Co. in Hiawassee or maybe inviting them to stay overnight at The Bear Den Chatuge and share a homecooked meal with us. My brain has been spinning with ideas!

Drew’s advice to new hikers

A night of rest staying with us at The Bear Den Chatuge. Back to the trails for Drew!

So, Drews first week on the AT has been full of adventure, wonderful people, great stories and very sore body! “Trail Legs” typically come about 4-8 weeks for most people so he still has a way to go. His night with us included bed at hiker midnight (9 p.m.) and a solid 11 hours of sleep. He was exhausted and loved a comfortable bed and a good meal. His advice to new hikers:

It’s a mental game – steel yourself for bad days. There are great views but there are also climbs that leave you sore for days, blood mountain is a beast….First two weeks are hardest and get in as many miles per day before 3 p.m. is the target.

UNICOI GAP

For locals and guests who just want a great and slightly challenging day hike, here is a description of Unicoi Gap from Atlanta Trails.

“With trailhead located just off a paved highway, and with some seriously spectacular summit views, it’s no wonder that day hike from Unicoi Gap is one of the most popular hikes on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. This adventure scores a heart-pounding climb of Rocky Mountain, one of the most difficult stretches on the A.T. in our state, climbing over 1,000 feet to the mountain’s summit. After catching views from the mountaintop, the hike descends to the scenic Indian Grave Gap. And then it explores a lush forest on the mountain’s middle elevations before looping back to Unicoi Gap on the Rocky Mountain Trail. It’s one great hike, for sure.” If you take this hike, don’t forget your gear list suggestions from Trailful Outdoor Co.

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A visit with an Appalachian Trail Hiker