The Smokies etc.

Lots to report on; as always thanks for the support!

I am uploading my photos to Flickr as well. Here is my photo stream!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94837690@N05/8641035813/


Day 15, Thursday, 3/28/13, hiked 11.7 miles, Chunky Gal Trail to Carter Gap mile 93.9

We got dropped off at deep gap and I hiked south with Spider and Tin-man to were we got off previously at Chunky Gal trail, Then we hiked North and took a short cut past the south bound section we just did. Then we kept going to meet up with the rest of the group. This way we did not skip any sections of the trial.

Day 16, Friday, 3/29/13, hiked 15.9 miles, Carter Gap to Winding Stair Gap mile 109.8

Crossed the 100 mile mark! Had to use our hands to climb up the rocks on Albert Mountain! We decided last minute to go all the way to winding stair gap and then we hitched in to town and got a room at the Microtel.

Day 17, Saturday, 3/30/13, hiked 0 miles

We took a zero day in Franklin, NC. We went to the hiker bash that was at the Sapphire Inn. I was told there would be face painting, vendors, book signing etc. Nope - there was one guy singing country songs and a lot of free beer. For a guy that doesn't believe in getting drunk it was rather boring.

Day 18, Sunday, 3/31/13, hiked 5.8 miles, Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Picnic Area mile 115.8

I went to the free pancake breakfast at the Church again - no one else from my room got up for it. I went and I tried hinting to the lady that was running it that I wanted to come to the Easter service if only I could get a ride back to the trail afterwords - no luck :(  By the way this process of asking for something (usually food) with out actually asking for it is known as "Yogi-ing". So we hiked and eventually it started raining then we can upon a sign with an arrow that said "Trail Magic". We went over to the picnic area off the trial and there was a big group there cooking Ham, mashed potatoes and green beans! Easter Dinner! So we stayed there that night. My tent actually did really well in the rain that night - no condensation.

Cool cross up on the hill in Franklin, NC

Gweejo and Spider crossing a bridge right after winding stair Gap

A bridge right after winding stair Gap

Day 19, Monday, 4/1/13, hiked 10 miles, Wayah Picnic Area to Cold Spring Shelter mile 125.6

My trail family from the left: Spider, Tin man, me, Gweejo, Globug, Doobie, Pink Panther, Borders and Yukon 

Day 20, Tuesday, 4/2/13, hiked 11.7 miles, Cold Spring Shelter to A. Rufus Morgan Shelter mile 136.6

Half way through the day we came to a nice fire tower and went up it to have lunch. It was basically just a wooden platform at the top with short walls all way around. A lot of hikers stopped there - it was nearly full at one point. From there off to the North we could we Fontana Dam  and the Great Smokie Mountains - our future destinations.

Wesser Bald Observation tower

Spider and Tin man on Wesser Bald Observation tower

The view North from Wesser Bald Observation tower. About the middle of the picture is Fontana Dam and on the horizon are the Great Smokie Mountains

Day 21, Wednesday, 4/3/13, hiked 11.3 miles, A. Rufus Morgan Shelter to Locust Cove Gap mile 147.6

Hiked a mile down to the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in the morning. Went to breakfast at the restaurant there, then to the outfitter and then Lunch. The others worked on getting back country camping permits for the Smokies - I printed mine out before I left for Springer. Borders' father has a Cabin about 30 minutes from the NOC so he arranged for everyone to go there for 2 nights. I wanted to keep hiking so I could meet up with my Sister Ginny and her family at Fontana Dam. So I said my goodbyes to the group which included Borders, Doobie, Pink Panther, Gweejo, Spider, Globug, Tin-min and Yukon. It was difficult, I missed them almost immediately went I left. I had been with most of them since my second night on the trial! As I was leaving and crossed the bridge over the river they all yelled my trail name! I met "French" on the way up the mountain. I was feeling a bit sad on my hike that day which as a several mile constant uphill, but when I got to the top of Swing bald after that big climb "The Ref" said "you made it!" (We didn't really know each other but had seen each other a few times before) and I talked with him and a few others at the campsite that night. It was nice to have people around that know your name and it gave me hope that I will make new friends along the way on this trip - God really does provide right when you need it, even in the small things.

I met "Lao" that night as well at "Grey Loon", "Coach" (his last name), "The Ref", and "Snafu" (microbiology major)

Also, we never saw "Mustard-plug" show up at the shelter the previous night. We found out from "Saint Nick" that he walked in at about 8 pm (which is late fore hikers) and was not doing well. Saint Nick carried is pack down the mountain and got him to an ambulance. He had some surgery on his intestine several months back and I guess the hip belt on his pack had been agitating it.

Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC)

Day 22, Thursday, 4/4/13, hiked 5.5 miles, Locust Cove Gap to Brown Fork Shelter mile 153.1

It was raining when i woke up. It was dry inside my tent but I had to pack it up in the rain so it was soaked and heavy. It rained all day. I was not dry under my rain jacket and I was cold - later I found out is was 37 degrees  So I ended up getting to the first shelter at about noon and I stayed there because my tent was wet ant there was open shelter space. There were a lot of people that had the same idea so I had a lot of company. I met the Germans there "Smokes" and "Smiling Virgin" (named so because he had never hiked before and was thus a Trail Virgin). I also met "Flipper" and "Nutella". French was there and fried up some tortilla chips with hummus for us.

Day 23, Friday, 4/5/13, hiked 11.5 miles, Brown Fork Shelter to Fontana 28 AT Crossing mile 164.6

I was first out of the shelter in the morning because I wanted to make Fontana by mid-day to meet up with Ginny, Ross and my nephews. I made it by 12:30 and called Ginny. Unfortunately they hit traffic in Atlanta and did not make it until 6:30 pm. I called for the $3 shuttle in to Fontana Village which is a small resort. I set out my stuff to dry in the sun and did laundry  I saw Mustard-plug sitting outside the store - It seems the report was true, he was in the hospital for two days due to the surgery he had a while back. He got a ride back to the "Fontana Hilton" that night - which is just a shelter with bathrooms and a shower. I also saw "French" and "Stretch" while I was there. Ginny and Ross finally made it that evening and we drove to Cherokee, NC to the hotel. They got me my own room and bought me dinner at Dairy Queen!. Cherokee is a small town built around a casino - lots of stores selling touristy Native American stuff. 

Cool view with the sun coming through the clouds and fog

Cool view with the sun coming through the clouds and fog

Package with lots of food and supplies from my parents! I took what I could, gave what I could to other hikers and left the rest for my trail family to pick up later. Also, my toes are in the pic.

Day 24, Saturday, 4/6/13, hiked 15 miles, Fontana 28 AT Crossing to Russell Field Shelter mile 179.6

Gin and Ross dropped me off at about 11 am. It was really hard to say goodbye. It was a difficult climb into the Smokies.

Me and my nephews! Zach, Ethan and Adam

Me and my sister Ginny!

Fontana Dam with the start of the Great Smokie Mountains in the background

Fontana Dam

Fontana Dam

Deer in the Smokies that came right up to me - no fear

Day 25, Sunday, 4/7/13, hiked 15 miles, Russell Field Shelter to Double Gap Shelter mile 196.0

Tough hiking but really pretty trail with grassy sections. When I got to the shelter I saw Matt. I had not seen him since Tray Mountain between Unicoi and Dicks creek Gap. He met up with his Dad I think and had been in the Smokies many days already. He and his group hiked to Clingman's parking lot to get a ride to Gatlinburg.

Grassy trail in the Smokies

Nice view from a bald in the Smokies

Day 26, Monday, 4/8/13, hiked 13.8 miles, Double Gap Shelter to Icewater Shelter mile 209.8

Hiked to Clingman's Dome the highest point on the AT. I didn't bother going up to the tower - it was very foggy and you couldn't see anything. I hiked 0.5 miles out of the way to the gift shop but all they had to eat were granola bars and candy bars. They were really expensive but I needed a little extra food to make it through the Smokies so I payed the $17. Then I hiked down to Newfound Gap. It was really icy. I heard people say that recently one person broke his arm and another dislocated his shoulder on the way down, some people decided to skip it but I went for it because, well that's what I do. I slipped and slide-ed on my way down but didn't fall. There was a  parking lot at Newfound Gap with a lot of tourists  A nice older man came over and started talking to me for a while. I really wanted him or someone to offer me a Coke but he didn't seem to have anything. He asked to take my picture and I obliged. The muscle in my right rear got sore half way down the mountain and it hurt all the way to Icewater Shelter.

I met "Dreamer" on the way to Newfound gap.

Trip up to Clingman's Dome, highest point on the AT. It was windy and foggy but not too cold.

The trail going down the North side of Clingman's Dome was covered in ice! There was several feet of snow there a week or two previous and but it all melted and refroze. The trip down was treacherous but also fun!

Passed the 200 mile mark just after Clingman's Dome!

Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap

Newfound Gap

 Newfound Gap - oh good, only 1972 miles to go!

Newfound Gap

Tents at Icewater shelter - mine is the one farthest right

Day 27, Tuesday, 4/9/13, hiked 12.6 miles, Icewater Shelter to Tri-Corner Knob Shelter mile 222.4

My muscle was still bothering me in the morning. I was thinking of going back to Newfound gap then going in to Gatlinburg to rest but I decided to just keep going North. I took it real easy and was ok. Sunny day and beautiful views walking on top of ridges most of the day. Probably the best hiking and views yet! I was the last one to leave the shelter in the morning - I had to dry out my tent. I made it to the shelter at about 4 pm. There was a high school hiking club there from Michigan. The shelter was full and there were hardly any tenting areas. I found a great level spot on the hill above the shelter - or at least I thought it was great until i spotted a dead fox on the other side of the downed tree a few feet from my tent. My nose was still pretty congested so luckily I couldn't smell much.

Met "Wooden spoon", "Better man" and "Hangman"

Also talked to "Dino DNA" the geologist I had meet a week or two back.

Lao changed his name to "Enoch" a character from a book called quicksilver.

Met "Bambo" who uses two bambo sticks for hiking poles. So does his friend - I didn't get his name. 

Charlies Bunion

At least half the day of hiking was like this! walking on the top of the ridge with great views of TN to my left and great views of NC to my right!

Day 28, Wednesday, 4/10/13, hiked 15.7 miles, Tri-Corner Knob Shelter to Daveport Gap mile 238.1

Some more nice views today. Met "Cruse" and "Corn dog" a couple from Northern Texas. I think they went school in San Marcos. Had lunch at Cosby Knob Shelter with Better man and this wife (I think her name is Kris). Wooden spoon, Cruse, and Corn dog were also there. Better man is a Civil Engineer. I took the 0.6 mile side trip to Mt. Cammer. It was an old mostly stone tower with a deck you could walk all the way around and see for miles.

The view from Mt. Cammer Fire Tower

 Mt. Cammer Fire Tower

On the way down the mountain going out of the Smokies

 Smokies Complete!

  Smokies Complete!

Lao/Enoch introduced me to "Black Beard"

Made it out of the Smokies! it took me 5 days and I didn't stop in Gatlinburg to resupply, though I did buy a few snacks at the Clingman's dome gift shop as previously mentioned. 

It occurred to me that I could get people to sponsor me and donate money for every mile I hike and donate it to a charity/ministry - something I'm considering.

My cousin Kyle picked me up and took me to his house in Knoxville that night. I finally got to meet his wife Hannah. She was cooking dinners to freeze with her friend when we got there and she made me an awesome plate of pasta to eat. Kyle and Hannah are great - I'm a big fan!

Day 29, Thursday, 4/11/13, hiked 0 miles

Zero day in Knoxville, TN at the Schmitt residence. Hannah made pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast! Then Kyle took me to get food for my resupply, to Best Buy to get a battery pack for my phone and to a few different outfitters where I picked up a sweet new rain jacket so I can stay dry in the upcoming rainy spring weather. I also got to see a little of downtown Knoxville, including the Sun Sphere - which I only know of through a Simpsons episode.

Day 30, Friday, 4/12/13, hiked 0 miles

Another Zero day in Knoxville, TN at the Schmitt residence. Spent the day mostly updating this blog.

Kyle and Hannah outside their home in Knoxville

I also made a little video of my trip thus far

Steady-State