APPALACHIAN TRAIL

Daily Miles: 17.2, Total Miles: 86.4 I don’t think there were more than a few feet of flat trail today with another 5k ft vertical. Hiking at a higher elevation today and cooler temperatures, overall ideal conditions. The big milestone was finishing Georgia and passing into North Carolina. A few other hikers showed up and we took the obligatory pics. Another memorable event was stopping for a drink at Plum Orchard Gap and hearing a loud crack on the nearby…

Daily Miles: 16.7, Total Miles: 69.2 Slept in a bit when I realized it was still raining but I still got back on the trail by 9am. Wow, a good workout today! Three big uphill pushes and a few smaller ones between Unicoi Gap and Dicks Gap, around 5k ft elevation gain. Considering the rain last night, the trail was in pretty good shape. Turned out to be a great hiking day, partly sunny, cool with some breeze. Beginning to…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 52.5 A restful, peaceful zero day in a prone position. Overall, I feel pretty good except for some expected tightness in my calf muscles. Got my hiker chores done and gear cleaned up. Even took a shower with my tent to spray off the accumulated mud and bits of leaves. I’m still looking for a ride back to Unicoi Gap tomorrow but may have to work on a “Back to Trail” hitch sign. The city…

Daily Miles: 10.6, Total Miles: 52.5 A mix of a stroll through the woods and good climbs, especially Blue Mountain. I met a few hikers along the way before dropping down to Unicoi Gap. I missed the free shuttle to town, courtesy of the city of Hiawassee. This morning’s rain held me up. But I quickly got a $10 ride straight to the motel from a guy calling himself Smoky Bear. I dumped my pack off and headed straight to…

Daily Miles: 16.8, Total Miles: 41.9 What better way to start the day than with a climb to the top of Blood Mountain. This is the highest point on the AT in Georgia at 4,458′. This section of trail to Neel Gap requires a bear canister if camping but I was just passing through. I’m sure the views would have been impressive. But I couldn’t see more than 50 feet in front of me due a heavy mist. I did…

Daily Miles: 15.6, Total Miles: 25.1 I woke up to an owl nearby hooting loudly and urgently and clearing skies and a stiff breeze. So I jumped out of the tent and threw my wet clothes on tree limbs for an hour or so. Still wet but at least not dripping. Lots of rolling hills and gaps today with a few steep climbs to Sassafras and Big Cedar Mountains. Stopped for lunch at Gooch Mountain Shelter and another opportunity to…

Daily Miles: 9.5, Total Miles: 9.5 When I went to bed last night there was to be no rain until Saturday. Up early this morning and checked the weather – drizzling rain until 8am. Just light enough at 7:30am so took off on the approach trail thinking the rain was about to stop. Four hours later I reached the AT start at Springer Mountain and it’s still raining, even harder. I nearly missed the AT southern terminus monument in the…

First of all, I would like to give a shout out to Mrs. Haze, my No. 1 Trail Angel. She has been so supportive of my passion for thru-hiking. An avid hiker herself and my training partner but understandably, doesn’t like to sleep on the ground. As such, she hiked the Cotswold Way in England last year with friends, staying in B&B’s every night. I’m quite jealous! I had an uneventful flight to Atlanta today, even arriving early. My duffle…