Jackanapes

 A bittersweet day. I felt much better, didn’t want to push too hard though. Songbird said the same but she started struggling mid-morning and decided to bail out and go back to the hostel around lunch time (we were near a road where they could come pick her up). So we made the difficult decision to split up our trail family for now. But we’ll meet back up in Damascus, VA in a few days.

 It’s been a tough Day 24 and 25 but we’re plugging along - lots of rain hiking up Roan Mountain yesterday, then Songbird and I woke up to a case of food poisoning this morning. But we took it easy for a bit and then managed to make it into a hostel this afternoon , and are feeling much better now (got some meds and drank a lot of electrolytes). Might take an unplanned zero day tomorrow if we’re not 100% yet.

 Rainy morning stroll up Unalaska Mountain, easy afternoon walk to Cherry Gap Shelter. Got there early which was good because about 10 people showed up around 5pm! Only room for a few more in the shelter, the rest had to camp in the rain 😢 But it wasn’t too wet.

 Made it to Irwin! Glad to be resting for the afternoon. Lots of thru-hikers are going to Trail Days (an annual AT festival in Damascus, VA this weekend) but not us, so we might have the trail to ourselves for a few days starting tomorrow.

 Morning rush (Sonic saw a big bear butt disappearing down the trail) to meet up with a friend of Songbird’s for the afternoon. Then summited Big Bald Mountain before the shelter.

Bit of a sloggy day but then stumbled upon The Southern Cookie Lady doing trail magic. Passed the 300-mile mark and saw a baby deer in the afternoon. Heading into Irwin, NC TN the day after tomorrow.

 Had a lazy pleasant morning in Hot Springs (got new shoes!) before an afternoon hike to Standing Mountain Shelter. Surprised a bear cub up in a tree on the way - he scampered off over a ridge (probably to find Mom) and we hung out for a bit to give them some space before continuing on in a mostly-different direction.

Oh man, big day. We were going to kind of take it easy today but then decided to hike exactly 26.2 miles into Hot Springs because…well, I forget why, but we did. Just made it, very glad to be here. Happy Mothers Day Mimi and Caitlin!

Best day yet! We finally got good weather to finish the Smokies AND then had some great trail magic at Pigeon Gap. Then a long climb up Snowbird Mountain to camp at Groundhog Creek Shelter [Trail magic] — basically just lots of food (including homemade baked goods!) and some useful hiker items (band-aids, duct tape, drink supplements)

 Big push to Cosby Knob shelter - 23 miles, new daily record. Out of the Smokies tomorrow!

First zero day! Lounging around, doing laundry and resupplying in Gatlinburg while we wait for the storms to mostly pass. Then we’re planning to have a big push tomorrow to get most of the way out of the Smokies (or at least to lower elevation). Maybe 23ish miles or so. The only shuttle time we could get tomorrow is for a pickup at 5:30am. So headlamps for the first mile or two!

 Word on the trail about incoming bad weather moves fast, so we decided to head into Gatlinburg this afternoon. Hitched a ride along with a fellow thru-hiker. Hit the 200 mile marker in the morning! 100 miles a week, plugging along.

Kind of an easier day after the tough one yesterday, very overcast so not many pics. Thinking about heading into Gatlinburg tomorrow to avoid some possible “severe weather” on Wednesday night and Thursday. That was a much-appreciated shelter before some rains came a few nights back. And only 1 mouse!

Challenging welcome to the Smokies, lots of rain (even a touch of hail!) and elevation gain. Not cold though! Onwards.   I’m happy now that I’m in a shelter, it’s been a soggy Smokies so far.

Nice smooth hike from Stecoah Gap to Fontana Dam shelter right before the entrance to the Smokies. The FD shelter is known as “The Hilton” due to its awesomeness (flush toilets and warm showers!!) Smokies today wooo That food is not mine (though I kind of wish it was). It belongs to our hiking buddies from Hawaii.

Very rainy night and morning so hiked down to Stecoah Gap and caught a ride into Robbinsville to dry out and resupply. Sets us up well to get through the Smokies smoothly starting soon.  And I got a trail name! So as you may recall I would do a “Daily Spark” before my math classes in Hawaii (joke, icebreaker, game, etc). When Songbird heard that story she immediately said “That’s it! You’re Spark.” It seems to fit well so far.

Beautiful green hike down to the NOC this morning (which looks familiar, I think we might have stopped here on a family road trip as kids?) then a long climb up to Sassafrass Shelter just before the rains hit. P.S. My hiking friend Songbird and her husband are folk musicians! Their band is The Honey Dewdrops, check em out on YouTube sometime P.P.S Songbird also gave me my trail name yesterday. Tell ya soon.

Caught a shuttle from Franklin back to the trail in the morning, then hiked about 17 miles to Rocky Bald with my new friends Songbird, Mudbath, and Sonic. Smokies tomorrow!

 Day 7 (they’re happening fast!) Beautiful early morning, hit the 100-mile mark, afternoon rest in Franklin, NC

Crossed into NC through a pretty solid morning downpour, but it cleared off for a nice afternoon. 

Got dropped back off at Unicoi Gap and went big (21 miles) to Plum Orchard Shelter to beat some late-night rain. Crossing into NC tomorrow!

First hostel stop! Hiked 10 miles in the morning and then stopped at the Green Dragon Hostel near Hiawassee in the afternoon. Nice to get a hot shower and sleep in a bed.

Misty morning climb up Blood Mountain Long afternoon stroll to Low Gap Experienced our first trail magic too! Couple of former thru-hikers were grilling hot dogs by a road crossing. I had 2, so delicious.

 Overcast but nice Day 2. Made a few friends at camp tonight and we’re going to hike together for a bit. Sam is 27 and Craig is 63 so I’m close to the middle.

 Great Day 1! Charlie Lutin and I hiked the Approach Trail up to Springer Mountain, then we parted ways and I continued on a few miles to Hawk Mountain.