Through Hiker Season

It's that time of year again. Through-hiker season!, the few weeks in June when the majority of those through-hiking (going from Georgia to Maine) the Appalachian Trail pass through nearby to where I live. It's the time of year when one can come across individuals known as Leprechaun, Frenchy, Stinky, or my personal favorite, Cosmic John. If this doesn't make any sense, everybody that hikes on the trail sooner or later picks up a trail name based on a personal characteristic. Leprechaun was 4'5" with a red beard, Frenchy was from France, Stinky smelled, and I'm assuming Cosmic John used to use drugs, a lot.

I decided to set out to meet this year's most recent group in town. Knowing that the average through-hiker can burn well over 6,000 calories a day, I decided that instead of being that weird creepy guy that just shows up wanting to talk, I would hit up the Food Lion on my way out the door to be certain that I would be welcome. I then raced to the nearest, and often busiest, hiker campground only to find that it was completely deserted. Well, maybe not completely deserted. The campsite stretched a good distance into the trees and figuring that somebody would be way in the back I kept walking. My intuition proved itself correct, because I did find someone, at least their clothes anyway. The site is bordered by a river, which apparently happens to be a great place to go skinny dipping. I decided that I could find someone else to talk with instead.

When I finally got to where all the hikers were (a local hostel), I found that they were all (about 20) plopped down in front of a TV watching Tron. I said hi and that I had brought some Coke for them. They said thanks. Then I said that I had brought bananas for them too. This time they said thank you a little louder and with much more enthusiasm. Then I mentioned that I had brought ice cream sandwiches as well. At this the entire room erupted with cheers as smelly, greasy people came up to me and shook my hand, asked for my name, and gave up their seats for me so that I could watch the movie with them. I think that's the moment I won their trust.

It was an awesome night. We all watched the movie as jokes were made, and luke-warm Cokes (I looked for the hikers at the original site longer than initially expected) were passed around. I even picked up a trail name, Flip Flop! I did a lot of praying too. Mainly due to the guy beside me picking the skin off his foot and throwing it into the trash can on the other side of me though. I think for the most part they were answered. I never got hit, anyway, but his hands never got the severe cramps that I was praying for.