Pictures -- North Carolina (north)

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Hilary joined me from Davenport Gap, at the northern end of the Smokies, to Hot Springs, NC -- a total distance of 35 miles. She was a natural and hopes to one day hike the Appalachian Trail as well. She especially liked the hiking and peeing-in-the-woods aspects of the trail.

Hilary and this tree have similarly shaped trunks.

Hilary being a monkey on a funky-shaped branch.

At the top of Starfish Mountain, where the FAA has clear-cutted the summit in order to install a flight control center there, below.

Views from the summit of Max Patch, an open field at the top of a 4000-foot peak. To the south are the Smokies; to the east, North Carolina; and to the west, TN.

Hilary and I stayed the night on the summit. Here, enjoying a hot pot of coos-coos and mashed potatoes, under the shelter of the McKean-Peraza's brand new and brightly colored tent.

The sunset from the summit of Max Patch. I scored major points that evening.

Hilary, her father, John, and I at the shore of the French Broad after a dinner in Hot Springs, NC. It was the first time I had been "clean" in two and a half weeks.

 
John trying to get some shut-eye in. Hilary, very glad to have on clean clothes and make-up, and access to flush toilets.

The next morning the three of us went our different ways -- Hilary and John back to Chapel Hill, and I continued northward. The trail follows the French Broad, above, for a little ways before heading up the ridge north of town.

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