Today has been awesome! We had some cloudy and very foggy weather, so we missed out on some of the views, but just before we got to where we planned on camping tonight, we came across a sign that read "Trail Magic", free hot-dogs.....etc! Just a few yards from the sign we found a huge orange dome tent and a very nice man named Apple. He had a propane heater, a wood burning stove, a generator, a stove, a microwave, coolers, hot dogs, hot chocolate, coffee, cherry Coke, oranges, Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, and more! We also found out that a church group from a nearby town is coming to this same spot tomorrow to provide more trail magic in the form of free biscuits and gravy for breakfast and burgers for lunch. So......we decided to cut out the last mile of our plan for the day and stay awhile! When we arrived, Evergreen and Big Boots were already here. Eventually, a man named Chestnut who has thru-hiked 3 times already and is attempting his 4th, joined us. Other hiking acquaintances, HardCore and Ketchup joined us later. We talked with Apple, consumed great quantities of food and just hung out in the toasty warm tent that would be our home for the evening. This trail magic could not have come at a more perfect time. The first rain we have had this trip has been pouring down hard down, while we are happily remaining warm and dry in Apple's amazing set up. Apple has been a trail angel since 2003. He even has a book full of pictures and stories of past hikers in past years. He provides trail magic on the AT for one month every spring and one month every fall for AT thru-hikers. Then, Apple goes out to Colorado to provide some magic for PCT hikers. When he is not busy providing trail magic, Apple is doing rail maintenance such as cutting away fallen trees that are blocking the trail, building shelters and privies, and whatever else needs to be done. It has been a memorable night. Tomorrow we will eat our fill of biscuits and gravy and then head out to Rufus Morgan Shelter, about 11 miles away. Then we will get treated again because Topo's parents are coming to pick up Mosey and to bring us dinner and treats. Until tomorrow.....good night.
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