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 my commitment and desire and kind of felt like leaving. I shouldered the burden and committed to staying, but it was an eye-opener. I get down when I stop but feel amazing when I am hiking so I think it will be fine. Got out of bed at 7 am and left the shelter by 8. Had a bagel for breakfast because there was no water to cook with. I hiked part of the day with a kid from WH. Nice Kid, about to start college. He was in Kenya volunteering right before it destabilized. Left him when he needed a long rest and I continued on to eat lunch at Gooch Mountain Shelter with some folks from MN. Hiked onward and talked to some hikers who were waiting for a shuttle to a hostel in town at Woody Gap.It was tempting to go but it is only night 2 and that doesn’t seem like a trend I want to start. Finished at 20 miles for the day. Big miles for early on, but I feel good. Pitched my tarp and I am camping by myself after a mac and cheese dinner. Going into Neel’s Gap tomorrow where I can socialize, as I am a bit lonely and call home. I am excited to talk to Mom and Dad and Hannah.

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 and rocky. Walasi-Y at Neel’s Gap is pretty cool. Nice little outfitter, bought some Newtons. Talked to Mom a while which was nice. Hiked out and ate lunch at Tesnatee Gap. Ate with some other hikers which was nice. I could use the conversation. I considered staying at a shelter for the company tonight but decided to continue on and make it to Hiawasee tomorrow and stay in town. It’s only been a few days but I could use it. I am not making many friends, well, none, because I am hiking much faster than everyone else. Being by myself is still pretty lonely but I am getting better. The hiking is still good so things are fine. I am cowboy camping just off the trail and will hopefully wake up dry and early for the 20 mile to Hiawassee. Got my knife stuck in a tree when I used it as a weight for my bear line. Not the first time this has happened in my life and I had to climb up and get it. Bagels and peanut butter for dinner, as I am too lazy to cook anything. Hopefully a real meal tomorrow.

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 caught the shuttle to a hostel. Paid 10 bucks for camping, but got a shower, laundry, and some company. Met Carol and Tree from TN. Talked to them most of the evening, really nice people. Ate a big dinner from the grocery store. Talked to my folks and Hannah and got my email. Found out Brian Beachy passed away this week which is really sad and a real loss. Got to bed about 10:30 and slept under the stars. Beautiful night.

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 to Standing Indian shelter and got there at 3, seemed too early to stop so I pushed on and did an extra 6 miles or so to Carter Gap. Knee got sore a few miles before the end but I felt good otherwise. Rain and Mist all day but nothing too heavy. A dog followed me for 15 miles and is here at the shelter with me. He is friendly and I decided to call him Banjo. Some church group is at the shelter, but they’re staying in tents. They are praying around the fire. Young and excitable, but seem like good people. Looks like more rain tomorrow, but oh well, can’t fight the weather. Starting to settle in and feel good out here. Long way to go.

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 had a freak out when a mouse ran across their face. Pretty funny. Rain all day, hail in the morning. Hard climb up Albert Mt. Steep and slippery, really cool. Beautiful view. Another long day out felt good. The dog stayed with the church group. In the shelter again tonight. Good company: Thinker, Lotus, Hair Bear, and another (I forgot his name). Lipton dinner and I lost my spork. Bummer, but I will get another at the NOC. Looks like more rain ahead. Feeling pretty good.

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 shelter, but felt energetic so I booked it to the hostel. Ate a huge (1 lb.) burger and some onion rings. Paid 17 bucks for a spot in the bunkhouse. Sharing a room with Columbus. Nice guy from NYC. Got a shower and called a few people. Good to talk to the guys back at the mansion. Talked to the rents and Hannah. Feels good to have a real bed.

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 I figure that’s bound to happen. I camped with about 8 folks at the shelter, hopefully I can get a spot inside. Great people. Guy named Mouth is a riot. He bought a radio in Franklin, huge thing, and is packing it around without batteries so it’s pointless. He talks all the time but it’s funny. Into the Smokies tomorrow after I get Hannah’s package at the post office.

Cable Gap Shelter, NC to Russel Field Shelter, TN: Daily miles 22.7, Total miles 179.7

Rained all night last night, but they squeezed me in on the edge of the sleeping platform in the shelter. Rained all the way into Fontana but cleared up when I got there. Tried hitch hiking the 2 miles to the post office but the only person to stop drove the shuttle into town. She gave me a ride to the P.O. and then, as I was getting out told me the shuttle was 2 dollars. I was a bit mad as I just would have kept hitchin if I had known it cost. Got my package from Hannah. It was fantastic. Cookies, Pierson’s salted nut rolls, some news, which was great, and my little knife to replace the big one that I had to bring because I had lost the little one. There were also some photos from Houghton, which made me miss my friends. I got some food (resupply) and an older man bought me a powerade just as a gift, nice surprise. Tried using the internet, but the building was closed for the day. Fontana is a big tourist resort but it’s the off season so it was weird and rubbed me the wrong way. Hitched back to the trail after not being able to make the phone calls I planned because there was no reception. Got a ride from the ridge runner who told me that the dam was closed to hikers and I had to take a 2.5 mile detour around. The detour was all steep climbs and covered in trees they just cut and left in the trail – it sucked. By the time I got into the Smokies I was feeling pretty tired and depressed. The climbs were long, I was exhausted. I went an extra 3.3 miles beyond my plan and am feeling a little better. Quiet shelter – big change from last night. Over Clingmans Dome tomorrow.

Russel Field Shelter, TN to Icewater Springs Shelter, TN: Daily miles 30.2, Total miles 209.9

Huge Day! 30 miles over the highest point on the trail. Got started at 7:20 and barely stopped the whole way. Beautiful weather, sunny, probably 70 degrees. Got a pretty good sunburn on my arms. Climbed Rocky Top and sang the song the whole way up. Went over Thunderhead Mt and couldn’t help thinking about hiking this part of the trail with Pete over a year ago. Just before Clingmans Dome there is a spot that brought to memory my first big backpacking trip with my brother and Ryan. It was the spot we had decided to bail because we were in over our heads. That was a 10 mile day, maybe. I just did 30 over the same terrain. I’ve come a long way in 5 years. Clingmans dome was a zoo with tons of gawking tourists who can’t believe it’s possible to walk to Maine. I spread the word about at4mld.org and hopefully we can get a donation or two out of it. It was a long 7 miles to Newfound Gap from Clingmans. At the Gap I ate and tried calling Hannah, but I couldn’t find a plug so we only talked for like 3 minutes. Hiked the last 3 miles to the shelter, stretched, then got right in my bag. I am beat. Talking to a guy who hiked the trail in ’92. Feeling better than last night. Sore but good. I like big days.

Icewater Springs Shelter, TN to Davenport Gap Shelter, TN: Daily miles 27.4, Total miles 237.3

Long day. I felt pretty beat up after yesterday and was pretty sore hiking all day. Made good time over big miles despite feeling pretty poorly. Rained most of the day and thick fog, so not many good views. It was a cool hike along a high ridge that I am sure is really cool in good weather. Wind was really blowing all day. Blew hard enough to make me nervous crossing some high exposed areas. I am in the shelter with two other guys, both have been out over a month. They entered the Smokies the day I climbed Springer. Ate Lipton Chicken Noodles for dinner. I had sworn that stuff off, but it was alright tonight. I wish I would have made 2 packages as I had another and I am still hungry. My appetite is hopefully coming back after being down the past week or so. Hopefully I develop the “hiker hunger” I keep hearing about. I need to be able to eat more. Looking forward to Hot Springs the day after tomorrow. I need a shower and to wash my clothes and some section hikers I met will be hanging out there. Shorter day tomorrow and out of the Smokies. Short day (much needed and deserved) the day after. Feeling pretty good about being out here.