Follow the Easter Eggs to the Van!

April 22, 2025

The shuttle from the Grove Hostel picked Bo and I up from the Inn at 0645 and took us back to Winding Stair Gap. On the way to the gap, we watched the sunrise in the distance and started hiking at 0700.

Bo and I are trying to walk slower today to give my feet a break, and today is the first hiking day with the new shoes! Bo took more sniff breaks today, which allowed me to stretch more along the way. We passed a few neat bridges on our hike today.

Our first trail magic of the day was in a parking lot from a lady who thru-hiked back in 2013. She had fruits and chocolates, so Bo and I sat and chatted for a bit. She told us a story of a murder that occurred on the trail a couple of years ago. There was a guy with an ax who threathen to burn a woman and a man’s tent down. The cpuple packed up canp and were on the way out when the guy stabbed the girl, and she played dead and ended up surviving. However, the man was stabbed to drath, but was able to contact 911 and inform SWAT, that arrived in time to at least save the woman and apprehend the killer. It’s definitely a jarring story to be told, I’m grateful to have Bo and have made good friends who have my back. She informed us that there was more trail magic to be had further up the trail, which was just the motivation we needed after the tale she shared.

Today, I realized just how easy it would be to kidnap me. All someone would have to do is set out an Easter egg trail right to their van, and I would follow it–because that’s what I did today. I followed the Easter eggs to “Widget” and her family’s van and had some more trail magic! They had blueberry pancakes, bacon for Bo, and gaterade and fruit!

Bo and I walked up to the next hill… where we hit the motherload of trail magic that I had been hearing about all day! They were making burritos to order, so I had an egg, sausage, cheese, salsa, and avocado burrito. I also had beer and a honey bun. I met up with “Poppins” and Daisy and “Optimist” at this trail magic. We have just one more mile to the shelter today. Don’t worry, I paired the beer with a gaterade so they canceled each other out! The trail magic people said they set up every Easter, and they gave Bo and Daisy lots of sausage.

After the big trail magic, we walked to Wayah Bald tower and took in all the layers of mountains! Bo and I stayed with Poppins and Daisy at the shelter and were joined by Steven (“Howl”) and “Little Bird.”” “Poppins” and Daisy and I plan to hit the same shelter tomorrow and stay at the hostel together in a couple of days with Wade (“Cutt”). I felt more irritable today which was odd because it was Easter and we hit some many trail magic, but I determined it was mainly due to the pain and my feet and not sleeping enough the last two days. We hit 3 trail magics today, making 5 total for the trip!