Daily Miles: 8.3, Total Miles: 428.5 Took a shower at Black Bear Hostel this morning and headed out, leaving at the same time as Dapper Dan. We quickly returned to the trail down Laurel Fork and entered Pond Mountain Wilderness. Beautiful, blooming azaleas along the creek and over the water. A seemingly endless rock “staircase” led us down to impressive Laurel Fork Falls. A bit confusing at the bottom but headed downstream along the creek eventually picking up the trail…

Daily Miles: 17.8, Total Miles: 420.2 Just as I was drifting off to sleep last night, four ATVs came roaring through our campsite between myself and Patriarch. The idiots just missing the front guyline of my tent. They actually had to drive down the AT to get access to this primitive road. To add insult to injury, they all yelled “wake up” as they came by. The thunder, lightning and heavy rain started about 5am and it finally lightened up…

Daily Miles: 21.1, Total Miles: 402.4 Despite the noisy, flapping tent, I did enjoy the beautiful sunset and sunrise from my perch on Round Bald. A fun day overall, hiking the ridgelines and balds of the Roan Mountains. Some of the best, clear views yet of the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains and countryside. Made it even better that there wasn’t near as much climbing as in days past. Leapfrogged with a hiker named Stretch since yesterday. I also caught…

Daily Miles: 17.6, Total Miles: 381.3 Mrs. Haze suggested I download an app called Merlin used for bird identification. One feature is to record the birds and it will attempt to ID them. I tried it from my tent this morning and the predominant bird was an ovenbird. But also a yellow-bellied sapsucker, white-breasted nuthatch and a black-throated green warbler. Very cool! Back on the stair climber today along the NC/TN border, about a mile of elevation gain over 18…

Daily Miles: 19.4, Total Miles: 363.7 I arranged a ride to the TH with Miss Janet, a well-known trail angel. By the time she arrived at the motel at 8:30am, there were too many hikers for one shuttle. We split into two groups – I managed to get on the first haul. Miss Janet announced she couldn’t take anyone that wasn’t feeling well. She said that a norovirus is now running rampant on the AT and is extremely contagious. Her…

Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 344.3 A day of rest in Erwin TN. I saw some hikers off to the trail this morning after breakfast. I’ll probably see a few of them at the next stop. The only difficult decision today was deciding which fast food restaurant to try out for lunch. Bojangles or Pal’s Sudden Services – hadn’t been to either one before. I opted for Pal’s but first had to figure out how to get in. I finally…

Daily Miles: 17.0, Total Miles: 333.2 Started to rain as I was getting dressed so hung out for an hour or so until it slowed down. Nearly out of water so headed to Hogback Ridge Shelter. Had a chat with Buttercup and Booyah who were having breakfast together. I then did the 25-minute round trip to the spring creek. I got down to Sam’s Gap and began a nearly four-mile climb to Big Bald and rare 360-degree views. Only partly…

Daily Miles: 19.8, Total Miles: 316.2 It rained for several hours last night and woke up to a drizzle and a heavy mist. Couldn’t just lay there so put on the wet clothes and got ready to go. I quickly got to Whiterock Cliff and the rocky, narrow ridge walk. Supposed to be great views but it was really socked in and couldn’t see anything. Later, I should have taken the bad weather route, the Big Butt Bypass, but stayed…

Daily Miles: 21.3, Total Miles: 296.4 Why is it I am always sleeping so soundly on the day I need to get back on the trail? Another reason I like Hot Springs NC is that the AT goes right through town. When I reached Main Street I met Kim, a local resident, walking her dog. Nice chat and fortunately her walk was my walk for a few miles. She guided me where to exit the highway past the bridge over…