4/5

6;30 am

Never ceases to amaze me how early people will get up to start an attack on the trail. I am roused from slumber by the shuffling of bags and supplies, which at this point is nothing new to me at all. I am thoroughly excited myself as I know my dad and brother will be here to resupply me in a short while. Since there is no going back to sleep when a shelter begins to rouse I do the same. My bag is packed and teeth brushed. I skip breakfast knowing that my resupply will (hopefully) bring breakfast as well. 

I wait in the parking lot for them to show up and soon enough a white sedan is pulling into the lot. When I said I was hoping they would bring food, I didn't realize they were going going to bring so much. 3 grocery bags of just about everything I might eat on the trail is unloaded onto the sidewalk. My bag is completely unpacked and then  I begin sorting through what I will need and what I will eat right then. The glorious breakfast they have brought me is Hardee's cinnamon biscuits. I shovel 2 into my face while adding more ibuprofen and band aids to my first aid kit. My brother has brought his puppy, a pretty little pound pup that has to have some hound dog in her. She noses through the food as I rifle through it, just as excited to be out in the woods as I am to see all the food. There are a lot of things I can't take merely because I don't have enough space but I pack plenty. I am truer I have forgotten to mention but this trip to visit me is also the starting point for dad. He will be accompanying me for the next few days to newfound gap in the park. He will be picked up from there and I will get to assault all the supplies I couldn't take with me at Fontana.

After about an hour of unpacking and repacking with new supplies and dropping some I don't need, it is time for goodbye. Justin takes a picture of dad and I, two adventurers off to storm through the woods of the smokeys without trifle or worry about whatever it throws at us. As we set off, Justin proceeds to drive in the wrong direction and it is some time before he passes us again going the right way. Dad and I continue across Fontana dam and up to the head of the trail where the smokeys begin

It is at this point that I need to bring up a problem I have been having before I continue on with the tale of mine and dad's hiking. Since the approach into Nantahala, I have had some trouble with my feet, particularly my right foot. I am not sure how it has happened, whether boots or overall stress to them but I have been developing what may be a heel spur. Climbing hills can become a struggle, as the pain while somewhat dull at times can switch violently. Each step can become a strain and if not for my tracking poles it would be that much harder. I have looked up pads for the back for my heel and may need to replace my boots or insoles, but until further notice I have planned to muscle through it unless it becomes too painful. If it does I will take zero days and then go from there. 

As dad and I enter the park we drop my thru hiker permit into the entrance box and head on. Dad and I talk almost the duration of the day. Talk of Knoxville and what I will do once I get home envelops a fair amount of the conversation during our ascent. I bounce ideas for my blog off dad and he in turn provides some great insight to future posts as well. The day ends at Mollie's ridge shelter. We arrive early enough to get bunk space in the shelter and begin to relax and enjoy the rest of our day. Many eve people file into the shelter and surrounding area. By nightfall the shelter is not only full but at least 10 tents have been set up around it. It is a cold remainder of the day. Every gust of wind is  frigid. Anyone staying in the he shelter tries to seek comfort out of the wind inside as the front of the shelter has been covered with tarp. A fire is started inside the shelter which warms us up some, but not enough to make the shelter feel any warmer. We are all inside our bags and bedded down before the sun fades. It is far too cold to try and keep a fire going into the night so before you know it, not a single person is awake. I always tend to read and write about this time so I lay awake for another hour listening to the coming and going of heavy breathing and snores, and jut like that I too am out like a light.

4/4

Today is a lazy day. My initial plan for the day was to hike the longest section I have attempted. A 27 mile section sat between me and Fontana dam and I would be meeting my dad and brother the following morning. This is a really ambitious thought by itself. Then the storm rolled in. The storm blew into Nantahala early and looked as though it would last all day and even pick up to a harsher degree in the evening. I still had it in my head that I was gonna hike the full distance but after talking with other hikers and employees at the outfitters, I was told that the conditions and thunderstorm would make for very unsafe hiking in that section. Because of the altitude there was a possibility that hail could have buffeted me. This is the only section of the trail that it have been deterred from, and as far as I am concerned it was for good reason. 

I managed to jump on a shuttle ride taking another hiker to Fontana dam. The rest of the day was spent exchanging numbers with my fellow hiker that I might now see again. The trail is long but depending on how each of us hikes the chances of running into each other again is a very difficult thing to plan. 

2pm 

A white pickup truck pulls up and this is to be mine and another hiker ride. An elderly gentleman takes a few dollars from us and then off to Fontana we go. The ride is short and conversation few. The gentleman giving us a ride is far more interested in my thru hiking than the other hiker. He is seems is just riding to Fontana and then hiking back to Nantahala. We full into the parking lot near the Fontana shelter and offload. Hands are shaken, grateful thanks are exchanges, and our ride disappears down the road. 

The shelter is big and the scenery that lay behind it is incredible. This shelter is named the Fontana Hilton and for good reason. It sits on a ledge above Fontana lake with a beautiful view of surrounding scenery. It has a large fire pit area which could be described as a hiker's patio. The shelter itself sleeps 20 and is one of the largest on the trail. To my knowledge it is also one of the only shelters where you can get a shower. A public restroom 100 yards away offers this great bonus to those passing through or staying. I settle into a top bunk and read while the ret of my bunk mates seem to party hard. This shelter seems more like the party pot than a trail stopping point. Luckily the rowdy crowd soon dissipates to another location and before I know it I am asleep. 

Pictures

Top of a fire tower in NC.

First sign of spring flowers in fog

Inspirational words from a fellow hiker

Crescent moon through the trees

Impromptu campsite night before nantahala

GA-NC state line

4/1-4/3

First off let me apologize for my last post I will go back through and spell check it again. I didn't have enough time or battery to worry about it when I sent it off initially. Said problem will be history post haste. 

 

My initial plan for April fools day was to write a fake report about my surviving a vicious attack and or capture by rednecks. I had anything but a "deliverance" experience on the first.

 Because I am behind a few days I am gonna do a crash course on each day day and then make some individual posts with pictures and then other off topic random shenanigans. 

4/1 

Beautiful weather accompanied by a trip into Franklin, NC (hey, it's Franklin..). 

Stopped at outdoor 76(kick ass outfitters) for a replacement pair of socks. Ran into a few friend ps replacing gear and getting new shoes. Outdoor 76 has bar inside of store with beer on draft. I enjoy a cold one while my friends make their purchases. When we complete our business there we make a trip to the grocery store getting a ride from a gentleman who calls himself "intents". Intents chauffeurs us around town for the afternoon collecting all supplies we need and even helping my hiker friends make a hiker box to send forward. This kind trail angel then treats us to lunch at huddle house. He drops us back off at the trail head after a delicious lunch that he pays for. I tried to give him some money but he refused to accept. While checking my data book, intents notices I have the lesser of the guide books. Before he pulls away he hands me the much better 2014 thru hiker northbound guide. 

This is by far my favorite trail magic moment I have encountered. Intents drives away and I am off to my next shelter. 

4/2-4/3

These 2 days are spent with a small group of hikers I have travelled at similar pace with. All of us hike at different speeds but always end up in the same place. On the 2nd, we hike past a shelter completely overrun with flies of some sort. We hike down the trail looking for a bald or an open campsite. We settle on making a rogue campsite off the path that seems to have been used only once before. The campsite is chosen in hopes that the sunrise will come up right in front of us. The morning of the 3rd is cloudy. My alarm to wake me up for the sunrise is quickly silenced and after peeking my head out my tent I realize that there will be no majestic sunrise on this day. Back to bed.. We a all sleep for a few more hours and then it's off to Nantahala. We all plan to rest and recoup there for the day as our little group will be splitting up. One of us is going to the casino, another is staying for a hiker festival in Nantahala, and the rest will be moving along. W get to NOC (Nantahala outdoor center) just after noon and take the rest of the he day to enjoy the beautiful sun the cool river passing by and a few drinks. This is the ultimate hiker spot. The general store sells beer and wine and as all the hikers file into town, we all end up sitting together watching kayakers pass by. We exchange stories of weather endured and wildlife seen. The main topic no matter where you go among hikers is always gear. 

What worked and what didn't. What was replaced and how much weight was dropped. The collection of good times endures the entire afternoon and even into the night as the sun drops. I get my shower and a hostel bunk. This is my favorite stop thus far. This little hiker stop  is clean and beautiful, full of pleasant hikers and tourists. The night wears on and we all crash after hours of just relaxing, something none of us have done since the beginning of this trip. 

3/31

6:30

Once again  I am awakened by my bunkmates. I find this completely fine on hi his occasion because I am ready to go. Without wasting any time at all I pack up in haste. Breakfast is a hiker box cliff bar, smothered with peanut butter, and half a water bottle to wash it down. Not looking back, I jump on the trail at 7:15.

This is a day other hikers and I have been talking about and longing for. A day when no base layer is worn and no jacket either. The name of the day is perfect. 70 and sunny with clear skies makes for the perfect weather to pull away from my louder camp mates. By 1:30 I am 14 miles away from their late night shenanigans. I break at a shelter for lunch. Even if some of them catch me here, they dare not go to the net shelter. The net shelter is another 8 miles away. My break lasts an hour and a half. I eat, lay out my socks to dry, open my shoes to air, nap in the sun, read. A more perfect afternoon could not be asked for with scenery in every direction. Another sign of spring I encountered today on my break and then afterwards, butterflies. As if the rain welcomed them to the area, a few flitted along the trail as I walked. 

 

3 

The loud campers have begun to show. The first few I recognize as more serious hikers but loud nonetheless. I know my break is over and I gear up to go. The remaining 8 miles is strenuous to say the least at the top of a very steep climb is the most beautiful view I have had yet on the trip. There is also a very important mark here. The top of this particular mountain marks my completion of 100 miles. 7 days and I have traversed 100 miles. I give myself a minute to stop and admire the the scene and allow some sentimentality to take hold. It is short lived simply because I started my second leg of these day and I must hurry on to grab space at the shelter and cook. Another hour and I am at the shelter. In ok parison to all I have stay at thus far, this may as well be a mansion. Much newer than most is has 2 stories and has yet to be graffitied by passing hikers it sits on a western face just low enough to not catch any wind but just high enough to catch the sunset over mountains to the west. The unset is a rich blue that turns darker by the minute while the sun leaves a warm glow hi-lighting the outline of the mountains. The folders become darker as the day fades away. I tend a small fire to keep warm as I watch. Just like that my day is over and it is time for bed. Today marks another record set for farthest travelled in one day. The new record is 22 miles. I doubt the loud campers will catch me again. This whole adventure is just a challenge of getting into a rhythm and keeping to it. I believe I have it completely figured out for now. I hope I am not wrong.. 

3/30

7am 

I have only one problem with hostels and shelters. Whenever 1 person is up, more people are to follow. No matter how tired you are, when people are up and moving it I impossible to go back to sleep. The night before I hung all my wet stuff to dry in addition to paying for a load of laundry done for the stuff covered in Mud. I bag all my clothes and begin to check everything for missing items. Checkout is at 9 so I drag out my departure to make sure that I get everything taken care of. I eat plenty again and make use of the running water as I do not know when my next opportunity will be. The hostel has 3 different times for shuttles to either drop you back off at the trail or take one into Hiawassee. 

9am 

The shuttle is an older van that has been refitted with seats to accommodate many hikers. The ride back to the trail is quick and the journey begins again. 

For the first time in 2 days when I climb a mountain or hill I can see in every direction. The veil of mist that has plagued my trip for 2 days has dissipated and brought clear beautiful ranges touching blue skies. The high is 50 and warms my bones after the cold and rain. At the top of each ridge a wind blows, ripping through my 1 layer and stealing my body heat. At the top of a ridge I see a oddly shaped tree and by it a marker. This tree has significant meaning in my journey because it rests on the line dividing Georgia and North Carolina. I stop to snack a bit and take a picture, the wind is relentless here so I am quickly on again. By 1pm I am 12 miles down the trail. Though I started the day with dry socks, my boots were not so lucky to dry out.  My socks are once again wet by association, so I take the remainder of the day to dry my boots out and hang my socks. With every hiker that passes I feel like my day is being wasted, although I know in the end it will benefit me. All afternoon I sit and watch the day pass by wishing that I could continue down the trail. I get in my sleeping bag to read. 

7pm 

The shelter only accommodates 6, and by the time I emerge to cook dinner there is a tent city that has shot up around the camp. The large group of people collect around the fire and are very loud till 11. I have to get up early and get out of this bubble of people. I don't want to be camping near them again. The cold wind swept into the mouth of the shelter all night long. Tossing and turning, again unable to get comfortable, I become frustrated with the weather but do nothing since I am helpless to its rage. Not the best night but eventually sleep did come..

3/29 cont..

My trail magic ride ended at the hostel Top of Georgia. I got in got a bunk and a shower and then just hung out. Once again I didn't have to worry about filtering water or setting up a tent. The remainder of my evening was spent drinking hot chocolate, enjoying running water, and taking care of my feet. I chatted with my hostel mates over the trail and how long they thought it would take them. Many people seem surprised by how fast I am moving. I thought I was just being efficient when the sun was up. In every hostel there is something called a hiker box. When a hiker passes through that has too much weight or food. They will throw all the unnecessary items in the hiker box to allow for the next hiker to either use or leave. I have found that a lot of people choose to throw out food that is just to o heavy and rather than add it to my collection, I eat it at the hostel in abundance and then don't have to restock as often. My hostel dinner feast included 2 bags of oatmeal, a pack of easy Mac, almost a whole bag of craisins, and some cereal. I love hiker boxes. Let me also mention that all of the food in these boxes are unopened and untouched, I wasn't just rifling through a box of food and picking pieces out of the bottom. 

Hostels do not provide sheets. Just summer camp style mattresses, bunk bed style. This means that even though I am sleeping on something somewhat softer than the wooden planks of a shelter, I am still restricted from stretching out. It takes me a long time before I get to sleep. when it, comes it is sound.