Chapter 5 Summary

Two days later, Mary Ellen is still tagging along, driving them crazy. Bryson and Katz make a plan to hike fourteen miles to Dick's Creek Gap, from which they can hitchhike to the nearest town - without Mary Ellen. They walk quickly enough to lose her on the trail and exit the woods onto Highway 76, where they are picked up by a drunk country couple who are on their way to get married. This hair-raising ride lands them in Hiawassee, and they happily check into a hotel. At dinner they begin feeling guilty about leaving Mary Ellen behind, worrying that she will have to spend the night alone in the wilderness. On the trail the next morning, they meet another hiker who has heard that snow is expected, so they quickly get moving again. Two days later they learn that Mary Ellen has...