Hot Springs, N.C. — More than a month on the Appalachian Trail and nearly 300 miles behind him, Sullivan County resident hiker Doug Woods reached the trail town of Hot Springs this week following one of his toughest weather stretches yet.

“We just got back from a slack pack — did 15 miles today,” Woods said. “We’re at 290 miles. We’re about to break 300.”

The milestone comes after days of snow, driving rain and freezing temperatures in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Woods described hiking through fog so dense that visibility was nearly gone.

“It was so foggy that any kind of rescue or anything was out of it,” he said. “We were getting really cold. We were soaked through. It was pouring rain and really windy. I was walking in water and slush.”

At one point, he estimated they were 20 miles from the nearest road behind them and roughly 30 miles from the next access point ahead.

“Nothing to do but keep going,” Woods said.

Conditions eventually broke as clouds lifted and sunlight cut through, warming the ridgeline. The hikers pushed on to camp and made it safely into Hot Springs, a well-known Appalachian Trail town where the footpath runs directly down Main Street.

Hot Springs, which relies heavily on hikers for seasonal income, was severely damaged during flooding last year. Woods said locals told him the town received roughly 30 inches of rain in a single day during the storm.

“They lost the whole year,” he said. “It really hurt them badly. They’re looking forward to this year.”

Woods is taking a “zero day”—a full rest day without trail miles—to recover.

 He reported minor shin splints but said he is otherwise feeling strong. A fresh pair of lighter hiking shoes, sent by his wife, arrived just in time.

After several unplanned zero days due to snow, Woods said his mileage slowed early in the trek. Still, nearly 300 miles in a month keeps him close to pace.

“We want to try to do 100 miles a week,” he said. “Once we get at it.”

He described recent stretches outside Hot Springs as some of the most beautiful terrain so far.

“The trail was just beautiful,” Woods said. “You could really move—doing three miles an hour in some parts. Flying.”

The Smoky Mountains, now behind him, proved far more punishing.

“You’re either going up a hill or going downhill,” he said. “There’s no flatness in the Smokies.”

Next comes a six-day push toward Erwin, Tennessee.

Along the way, Woods continues meeting hikers of all ages, including a 19-year-old who opted to hike the trail instead of going straight to college.

“There’s big bubbles behind us,” Woods said, referring to the surge of spring starters now joining the trail. “When we started, four people started. Last weekend, 150 people started.”

After a month of cold rain, elevation swings and nearly 5,500-foot climbs, Woods said he feels strong—and grateful to still be moving north.