NOC Bunkhouse, NC to Cable Gap Shelter, NC: Daily miles 22.1, Total miles 157.0
Quick resupply at the NOC. Got a little food and some fuel. NOC is a weird paddling outpost and seems pretty yuppie and really expensive. Long miles again. Knee is still sore but getting better. Feet hurt and shoulders aren’t great but [...]
Day 8 – Cable Gap Shelter, NC
Day 7 – Nantahala Outdoor Center
Siler’s Bald Shelter, NC to Nantahala Outdoor Center Bunkhouse, NC: Daily miles 23.6, Total miles 134.9
Another rainy day. Nothing terribly exciting hiking wise. Fog all day so no good views. Picked up a trail name from Lotus. From here on out I am calling myself Marathon, which seems fitting. Was going to stay at a [...]
Day 6 – Siler’s Bald Shelter, NC
Cater Gap Shelter, NC to Siler’s Bald Shelter, NC Daily miles 20.0, Total miles 111.3
Had the shelter to myself until the rain started at about 11. Then the teens from the church group moved in because the tents leaked. Nice kids though – tried to be really quiet and were super respectful. One of them [...]
Day 5 – Carter Gap Shelter, NC
Cloud 9 Hostel, Hiawassee, GA to Carter Gap Shelter, NC: Daily miles 24.2, Total miles 91.3
Got out at 9 am after one of the other hikers made an awesome breakfast – pancakes, bacon, good stuff. Packed up and left everyone I had met behind. Crossed into NC before noon. One state down. Planned on going [...]
Day 4 – Cloud 9 Hostel, GA
Red Clay Gap, GA to Cloud 9 Hoste, Hiawassee, GA: Daily miles 20.1, Total miles 67.1
Got out early, had a big day. Hot and sunny – over 70 degrees. A few big climbs. Starting to get tired so I decided to head in and take some rest. Finished my miles at about 3 pm and [...]
Day 3 – Red Clay Gap, GA
South of Dan Gap, GA to Red Clay Gap, GA: Daily miles 24.2, Total miles 47.0
Another big day! tented alone last night. Got up at 6:30 and on the trail by 7:20. Made the 8+ miles to Neel’s Gap by 11. Over Blood Mt. great view and a cool shelter. Blood’s descent was hard: steep [...]
Day 2 – South of Dan Gap, GA
Stover Creek Shelter, GA to Just South of Dan Gap, GA: Daily miles 20.0, Total miles 22.8
Big day for day #2. I always wondered how people could quit so quickly, but found out last night. When I laid down for bed I was overwhelmed with a feeling of loneliness and the task ahead. I questioned [...]
Day 1 – Stover Creek Shelter, GA
Spring Mountain, GA to Stover Creek Shelter, GA: Daily miles 2.8, Total miles 2.8
Left Pulaski about 8AM heading for GA. It is a pretty scenic drive but I slept a lot of it because I didn’t sleep well last night due to the overwhelming excitement. Arrived at Amicalola Falls St. Park at about 12:45 and [...]
Georgia
Made the trip down from Houghton via Pulaski, Tenn. and Muskegon, Mich. Picked up Tim in Muskegon and drove to Kim and Aubrey’s in Pulaski. Saw Rolf and Candy Peterson on the way down which is kind of an odd coincidence as I am working for them when I finish the trail. We stayed in [...]
AT for MLD
So I am almost within two weeks of my departure for the trail (15 days 19 hours and 17 minutes to be exact, but who’s counting). I will be on the trail the morning of the 24th of March. I am remaining calm but there is an ever present current of anticipation running through me. [...]
