Day #15 - Trail Magic Galore!

Miles: 11.6 to Cold Spring Shelter 

Weather: 60s/40s with sunny blue skies 

I slept like a baby in Tigger's tent last night. It never did rain. We took our time eating breakfast (I treated myself to one of my oranges) then rolled out around 9:00. Today the miles passed really slowly. We passed some hikers on the trail that asked us if we were thru hikers. When we said yes, they unzipped their daypack and gave us each a bag with two brownies. They joked, "They aren't Colorado brownies." True Story and I ate them immediately. They were delicious! 

Today's hike was tough but at 11:30 we got to a road crossing that had this sign: 

I walked as fast as I could and got there around 1. I feasted on hard boiled eggs, Pringles, pickles, more brownies, fruit, juice, cheese and more! It was great. 

I walked up to the fire tower to use the bathroom. There was no running water, but I was impressed by the 8 rolls of toilet paper! TP is a hot commodity on the AT. 

We finally made it to the first shelter, our planned destination for the day. Tigger and True Story decided to push on. Once they showed me the mileage for the next day, I agreed even though I wanted to take a short day. My knee has been acting up again. I left a note for Little Foot, Stealth, and the German Girls in the shelter register telling them of the change in plans. 

We finally made it to Cold Spring Shekter, which is literally right on the AT. Many shelters are about a half mile or so off the trail. I caught a glimpse of it from down the hill and was so excited to see a man made structure! I took a fully-clothed bandana bath in front of the shelter. A nice couple stopped to talk to me. As I stood there I wondered how long I should wait before cleaning my armpits in front of strangers. It's a different world out here! We talk about poop a lot. 

I changed into my night clothes in the woods. There are definitely leaves in my leggings. Oh well. 

Best Thing: So much trail magic!

Looking Forward To: Nantahala Outdoor Center! Bed! Shower! 

Day #14 - Flying Gatorade Bottle

Miles: 4.2 to Siler Bald Shelter 

Weather: Warm with threat of rain 

We meant to sleep late but we were up by 8:00. Little Foot scrambled eggs and baked frozen biscuits. I started the bacon and True Story finished it. The first few slices were half raw and half burned, but we got the hang of it eventually. It was a feast! 

We lounged around, sorted gear, and watched various movies on TV. Joey showed us a badass Pain Train (our group name) drawing he did for us. It included all of our names. Then Joey shuttled us around town. I bought two tangerines, longer shorts (the ones I brought were borderline scandalous without my leggings underneath), and sunscreen at Walmart. We ate lunch at Fat Buddies BBQ. It was pretty good! 

I helped Tigger pick out a new, lighter tent on REI.com. Her current one is a 5 lb two person tent. She picked the REI quarter dome. It looks like a great tent. 

I decided not to zero and to head out of town with True Story and Tigger. That way I'll hike two short days instead of a zero and a long day. Little Foot, Wiki, and Stealth zeroed. I mailed home my mug, camera and charging gear, my spare gaiter (lost the other), and a few other small things to lighten my pack. The guy at the post office was very nice. He saved me $4! 

We went back to Three Eagles Outfitters to wait for Simba and some other folks to get out of a movie so we could give them a ride back to the trail. Long story short, they didn't need a ride and we wasted several hours waiting for them. Trying to coordinate trail shuttles isn't easy! It's hard to stick with your friends. 

When we finally got back on the trail, we booked it to the shelter to beat the rain. Tigger and I quickly threw up her tent and climbed in. So far, it hasn't rained. I've learned that up here in the mountains, you can't trust the forecast. 

Kim finally caught us at this shelter. Yay! Haven't seen her in a week. Mighty Blue, the German Girls, and some others are here as well. I went to the broken bear cables with True Story to provide moral support while he hung the line. Really, I just feel bad asking someone to hang my food if I'm not there. He was using a Gatorade bottle as a weight. I offered my ZPacks rock sack but he turned me down. He then proceeded to swing the line and launch his bottle off the embankment into the woods. It was classic! I doubled over laughing and was so bummed that I was the only witness. After a trek into the woods to retrieve his bottle, he successfully hung the line. Made my day! 

Best Thing: An easy day and being back on the trail. 

Looking Forward To: Low miles tomorrow and being reunited with the gang. 

Day #13 - 100 Miles Down!

Miles: 12.2 to Franklin

Weather: Nice and breezy with a light sprinkle 

I slept great last night. Didn't have to wake up to pee! Woohoo! I loved our little wooded campsite. I dreamed Ms. Janet (famous on the trail) tried to sell me into the sex trade and True Story saved me. We are all having crazy dreams out here. 

I made cheese grits for breakfast using the MRE cheese sauce I got out of the hiker box at Hiawassee. It was very good but the cheese looked awful coming out of the tube. 

Left camp at 8:00 to climb Mt. Albert. The scenery was beautiful but it was hand over hand climbing for a few minutes. I had to throw my poles ahead a few times. This hike is all about finding your center of gravity so your pack doesn't pull you off the mountain. Made it to the top and climbed the fire tower. I hate heights but the view was worth it. 

We hit the 100 mile marker today! Crazy! There are still 2,100 some odd miles to go but it's still an accomplishment. The hike down the mountain was much easier. It was fairly flat. We took a break at a new shelter built in 2012. 

We hit the second shelter but I decided to hop ahead of my friends and keep going. So glad I did because I got trail magic! I saw cars and some lawn chairs set up in a parking lot and started praying it was trail magic hotdogs. IT WAS! A retired Ashville superintendent named Tabasco was grilling hotdogs and serving chips and Cokes. Unbelievably good and very appreciated! 

I flew up the hill after the trail magic. I kept up with True Story and Tigger on the uphill out of the gap. Then I tweaked my knee and had to slow down. We finally made it to Winding Stair Gap where Little Foot's relatives were picking us up. Tigger and I took foot baths in the roadside stream. So refreshing! We couldn't convince the guys to join us. 

Miss Jeanne picked us up in a big white truck and took us to a spare house on her property. It was amazing! No beds, but a bunch of bedrooms, 2.5 baths, lots of couches, a kitchen and TV. Plus, they bought us stuff to cook breakfast and they served us dinner and let us use their truck to get around town. 

We went to Dollar General (THE best place to resupply), Three Eagles outfitters (got a new half Buff), the liquor store, and Bojangles (Little Foot's favorite). We went back to the house and sorted gear. I gathered some stuff to send home, then showered and did laundry. 

We put on our rain gear and headed down to the main house for dinner. Miss Jeanne, her husband, and their 17-year-old grandson, Joey, treated us to hamburgers, baked beans, bean salad, and cherry dump cake. The house was beautiful, the food delicious, and the company great! 

We went back to our house to drink some beers and relax. Stealth played a few tunes on the guitar. I'll probably zero tomorrow. It's been a great day! 

Best Thing: Meeting great trail angels. 

Looking Forward To: Taking it easy tomorrow 

Day #12 - A Beautiful Day

Miles: 11.3 to Betty Creek Gap campsite 

Weather: 60s/40s and sunny 

I got up early and quietly packed my gear. I managed to get out of the shelter by 7:45 without waking anyone up. Mini victory! Luckily, there were no mice active in the shelter last night. 

It's 9:45 a.m. right now and I'm taking a feet-up break on a log. Stealth just passed! I figured that group was way ahead of me . 

The logs across the path aren't cut in NC so far. We have to climb over them, which can be pretty tricky with 30 lbs on your back. I love the sound of the birds in the morning. My feet are sore but my body feels strong. 

Today was a great day! Beautiful weather. Got to wear leggings and a tee. Lots of seasonal springs and seeps along the way. For the most part the trail was gentle inclines and declines. My knee is healing. Think it will be fine in a week or so. Some bird or something is making a slow thumping sound that speeds up. Turkey? Need to investigate? (Later found out it was a grouse)

Lunched at Carter Gap Shelter with Tigger, True Story, and some guy I don't know. Got to camp by 1:30. It's a beautiful site with a large, ice cold stream. Tigger and I stripped to shorts and sports bras and washed ourselves and our shirts in the stream. Tigger washed her hair. Mine is disgusting but I'll shower in Franklin tomorrow. 

Three of us set up our tents in a little nook in the woods. The leaf litter should make a nice soft bed and a good night's sleep. At our site, Tigger found the EXACT tent stake I needed. Score! What are the odds? 

There's a great, big group of folks here at camp. Lots of bartering food going on. It's funny. I let True Story use my stove so he wouldn't "burn down the forest" so he did my dishes. The leaves here are VERY sticky. 

Gregg now had a trail name. Wiki, as in Wikipedia. Apparently we're not the only ones that think he's a know it all. 

11 miles to Franklin tomorrow to resupply and beat the rain. May zero. Albert Mt looks really steep, but I'm excited to shower, laundry, dine and sleep in a bed! Today was a great day! Look forward to many more. 

Best Thing: Easy hike, big miles, watching camp bartering 

Looking Forward To: Hitting the 100 mile mark and getting to Franklin.

Day #11 - Welcome to North Carolina

Miles: 12.2 to Standing Indian Shelter

Weather: 70s/40s, hot and clear with a nice breeze 

The Boy Scouts were funny last night. One told us a blonde joke that went something like "If a blonde, a brunette, and an orange head fell off a cliff, who would hit first? The orange head and the brunette because the blonde would have to stop to ask directions." The hikers laughed about the orange heads more than the joke itself. The kid had never heard the term "redhead." Too funny. 

Tigger woke me up early and we set off toward the border with True Story. It was warm today! I started in my shorts and soon took off my fleece. The border was underwhelming. It's just a sign on a tree on the edge of the trail. I almost walked right past it. We climbed up some rocks to take a break at the border. We ate some puppy chow Tigger's mom made to celebrate a new state! We took pictures at the border and at the twisted tree just past it. 

Hiking the first part of North Carolina was a bitch! True Story said "Would you like some uphill with your uphill?" I kept up with Tigger and True Story until lunch, which is quite an accomplishment! We ate lunch at Muskrat Shelter. Toasted Toes, an older hiker who has lived in Beaumont, Longview, and Fort Worth, gave us some of his cheese and salami. 

Being out here has definitely affected my brain. I'm concentrating so much on putting on foot safely in front of the other that other things take longer to process. For example, when we showed up at the shelter someone had changed the sign from SHELTER to SHEETER. Totally threw me. I thought it was a privy sign. 

We also passed a side trail called Chunky Gal Trail. 

Hiking downhill was hard today because my feet are sore. There are lots of boulders and the trail is narrow with a steep dropoff. I should have taken a break but I thought we were close to the shelter. I stopped at Deep Gap for a break with Gregg. He said the shelter was still 0.9 miles away! We are hiking a little over 2 miles per hour so that was another 30 minutes away. It was a long day! I finally met True Story, Blacksmith, and Tigger at Standing Indian Shelter. They moved on to camp at the summit but I was too tired and decided to sleep in the shelter. The guys threw bear lines because there were no bear cables.

Dinner was gross. Not impressed with Hawk Vittles for the most part. I threw half my dinner away, which really means I put it in my trash bag and have to haul it for a few days until I find a trash can. Snickers saved the day and I ate one for the rest of my dinner. 

We are trying to make it to Franklin before it rains on Friday. My knee is still sore but feeling strong! 

Best Thing: A new state! Perfect weather. 

Looking Forward To: Hopefully meeting back up with Kim & Oliver. 

Day #10 - It's Hot Out Here!

Miles: 10.8 to Plum Orchard Gap Shelter

Weather: 70s/40s, sunny and HOT!

My hip bones were aching last night. I thought I might be getting a UTI or something, then realized my many layers of long underwear were digging into my hips, which have been supporting my pack for the past 9 days. I rolled my waistband down and instantly felt better. I should have done that nights ago! 

I woke up early and hit the trail by 8. It normally takes us about an hour to pack up and get out of camp in the morning. I think my hiker appetite is kicking in. I've been much hungrier lately. It was really hot today. We were all sweating and getting a bit sunburned. I had to take off my leggings and hike in gym shorts. 

Seemed like we had to hike forever to get to Dicks Creek Gap for lunch. A section hiker and trail angel named Kayla took our trash and gave us some sunflower seeds. She's a marine biologist that works west of Key West. She is planning a thru hike soon. 

The next 4.7 miles to the shelter were a bitch. I like uphills because they don't hurt my knees as much as downhills, but this never ended and it was hot! The bugs are coming out but no bites so far. I was daydreaming about a bandana bath in the creek. I stopped at the top of a mountain out of frustration, pulled out the map and saw I was still a mile away. When I finally rolled into Plum Orchard, I stopped to wipe down at the stream on the way into camp. Then Tigger and I took a more proper bandana bath and washed our shirts in the creek. 

Hanging out with Tig, Little Foot, True Story, Simba, Gregg, Jay from Maryland, Stealth (Quiet Mike), Muffin Man (Shoe Shine), Doug (of Doug and Dave) and a few others. I'm sleeping in the shelter tonight. I hung my pack on the lantern hook by the fire because I'm paranoid of mice. 

I ordered gaiters for myself and Tigger using my phone. I accidentally typed Dirty Girls .com instead of DirtyGirlGaiters.com. NOT the same site! Oops! 

According to Tigger, "1,000 babies just showed up." It's a Boy Scout troop. Now it smells like feet in the shelter. They seem like nice kids though. They are sleeping on the 2nd and 3rd levels of the shelter. Wonder if it will be loud tonight. 

Best Thing: Warm weather!!

Looking Forward To: Reaching the NC border tomorrow! 13 states to go! 

Day #9 - Getting My Trail Name

Miles: 10.4 to Sassafras Gap 

Weather: 50s/30s and very windy 

I was the first one up at the hotel. I packed my stuff then grabbed some hot breakfast in the lobby while I waited for the rest of the group to get up. 

We met our shuttle driver, John, who was supposed to take us back to Unicoi Gap. Quiet Mike rode in the cab with me and Tigger, True Story, and Little Foot rode in the bed of the truck with the packs and poles. John was a really nice man. He and his wife recently relocated from Ohio to Hiawassee. He's a woodworker and she's a painter. His mother-in-law works with stained glass and lives nearby. He had a cross hanging from his rear view mirror that she had made. John's been shuttling for about two years. 

When John pulled over to drop us off, things didn't look like I had remembered. Turns out he had accidentally taken us to another common gap hikers get dropped off at. He had to backtrack about 20 minutes to bring us to the right place. He was very apologetic. I didn't mind because I was in the warm cab, but I felt bad for my friends shivering in the back. 

We started hiking in the cold from Unicoi. The only person slower than me right now is Quiet Mike. I wore my knee brace today, but after a few miles it didn't seem to help much. It was VERY WINDY and cold today. Chunks of frost were falling from the trees. We met some day hikers/trail maintainers that told us about a lookout point on Tray Mountain. It was a looong approach trail with low clearance, but the view was nice and we stopped for a snack. 

We stopped for lunch a bit later at Tray Mountain Shelter where we were supposed to meet Kim. Someone had strung tarps across the front of the shelter because the weather was so bad. Kim had left us this note in the shelter: 

Before we left, Tigger and I peed by the shelter. Soon after, another group of hikers walked up and one of them dropped their pack in our pee. Oops! We hiked on to get out of the cold.

This afternoon we passed a couple of older men on the trail. Since I was at the back of the group and was wearing a knee brace, they asked if my trail name was Gimpy. When I told my group they told me they'd decided to call me Stylez because I'm so stylish all the time. Just kidding. It's because I talk about my PStyle so often. Ha ha! I'll take it though. 

I found a piece of a white blaze on the ground today and put it in my pack as a keepsake. I plan to ship it home with a few other things I don't need anymore. 

We decided to camp at Sassafras Gap, not a shelter. We met some new friends named Boss, Lasso, and Pipe. I ate a bag of instant mashed potatoes for dinner. They were good, but I kept hitting air pockets with my fork so they'd splatter all over my face. Tricky! Tigger bear bagged our food for us. 

I'm hurting but having fun. Our motto is "The Struggle is Real."

Best Thing: Getting a trail name!

Looking Forward To: Good weather and maybe catching Kim.