We have spent the last few days around Hot Springs NC. What a cute little town and beautiful surroundings. We met Rachel and Patrick after they drove up late Friday night. We stayed the night at the Laughing Heart Lodge which is a wonderful old house which was used as a Jesuit Residence. Saturday morning we packed up for a 13.5 mile hike south. We hiked up to Bluff Mountain at 4600 feet which was snow covered for the last mile up. Although the wind was cold at times the sun warmed us most of the afternoon. At camp that evening we had backpacker feast as Rachel and Patrick brought some great food! They also brought a bit of bourbon. Sunday really did eventually warm up. The trail was hazardous the first mile as the soft snow had turned to slippery icy traps for old men like me. We made it back to the Lodge around 4, dried out wet stuff and went to the local tavern for dinner. Rachel and Patrick treated us to a huge dinner. We did meet some thru hikers we had camped with early on. Youcon...