Iron Mountain Inn, Butler, Tennessee, and Miss Vikki

Shadow, Spider and Danielle had booked a horse riding your of Gettysburg, and so we said our goodbyes, then his the showers, and packed up and headed to our next destination - Iron Mountain Inn in Butler, Tennessee.  We had been picked up by Ms. Vikki from the trail two years ago, after we had been caught in a steady rain.  When she picked us up we were drenched!   As we stayed with her over the next three days, we were the only guests at the Inn, and she became a friend. 

On the way, we discovered we would be passing within five miles of Harper's Ferry, so we stopped by and visited at the Appalachian Trail Conservatory, the organization that oversees the care and protection of the AT.  It is also the halfway point on the trail, when you are hiking.  We were excited to pull out the 2012 Hikers book and see our photos!

After Vikki's husband passed away twenty years ago, she bought this beautiful mountaintop acreage in Tennessee and built a large log home, and opened it up to travelers.  She has the most comfortable inn that we have ever stayed in, and the views from the deck are amazing!

The road getting to her place is also beautiful!  She is about 45 minutes south of Bristol Motor Speedway. 

She is also a wonderful cook!

Our first night there, we enjoyed visiting with a couple from North Carolina, but they were originally from Brooklyn.  The man was an engineer on a tugboat up and down the east coast, and we enjoyed his stories.  He was also an avid motorcycle rider, and had traveled through Arkansas last year and just missed the Vilonia tornado.  He had ridden it out up under an overpass.  

While we were there, we hiked several trails near the Inn.  One of them actually connected with the AT!  Ms. Vikki had warned us it was very steep - up to 80% grade at the top, and well, she didn't exaggerate.  

(Bear poop - shoe for scale - lol)

(Found the AT!)

(Front porch)