NC/GA Border

Well time to close the chapter for Georgia, the home of the peach and great sweet tea...which I forgot to mention I had with supper! The last 3.1 miles of Georgia were pretty much an uphill climb...very tough.

So now into North Carolina. I am officially at Bly Gap, which is 76.4 miles from Springer & 2099.8 miles from Katahdin. I just set up my tarp at the campsite. It looks much more sturdier this time around. I am the only one here but am holding out hope that the gals or Pearls/Alex will come along. Not use to being all by myself yet. It is only 3:30...still early.

I also want to list for any future thruhiker the places to stay in Hiawassee from the best to the least from talking to other hikers.

1. Blueberry Patch!
2. Cloud 9
3. Hiawassee Inn
4. Holiday Inn Express.

Shepherd.

Live Oak

Isn't this the coolest live oak tree you have ever seen! It is right on the trail after you cross into NC. I am sure it has been around for quite awhile.

After leaving Bly Gap tomorrow, I enter the Nantahala National Forest with 4000 foot gaps & 5000 foot peaks! Nantahala is Cherokee for "land of the noonday sun", according to my guidebook. After that I enter the Smokies.

Well 3 more people came and went onto the next shelter, but the last guy said something about a few people trying for this campsite. So we will see.

Shepherd

Standing Indian Mnt view

Well I made it to the summit at 1:50. Temp 64.5 degrees & a pressure of 856.4 mb, which is the lowest reading yet. I am at 5,498 ft up and sitting on a rock ledge over looking the mnts I have just been through. I can even see Hiawassee. Words or pictures of course cant say or show the coolness of the view. 6.1 more miles to the shelter. God is good, and His creation is amazing...even with the fall.

Shepherd

Carter Gap Shelter

Wooo Hooo! I did my first 15 plus mile day of my young AT hike. Officially 15.3 miles, which puts me 91.7 miles from Springer & 2084.5 miles to the end. I am averaging 10.2 miles per day so far.

So far Limestone & Juno made it here and are spending the night. Popeye & Captain Jack should be along soon.

I am still debating onto going into Franklin tomorrow. Popeye has offered to let me share a room with them, which will cut down the cost. The reason is I need more alcohol for my stove...plus it is suppose to rain tomorrow night.

Well I am starving, so I think I will cook up my Beef Lo Mein meal tonight. Yum. For lunch I had Peanut butter & cheese crackers topped with Spam spread. First time for that combo, but it actually wasnt to bad! Getting real close to the Smokies!

Shepherd

Limestone & Juno

Day 10. Good morning.

We all slept well in the shelter...no mice to speak of. I had my peppermint oil out as well! Chilly & windy.

Also I wanted you to meet Limestone & Juno. They are originally from Washinton, but have moved around for Limestone's job in the forrest service. They also lived in Juno, Alaska...where they came up with their names.

Scott...havent seen any Balds yet. I think our first one is tomorrow. Wayah Bald.

Shepherd

Mooney Gap

Passed through Mooney Gap, which is know to be the wettest places in the eastern US. It has an annual precipitation of 93.5 inches per year.

Guess what? No rain today! Yeah. Albert mnt looms in the near future.

Shepherd

Macgyver & Lemur

We had a MacGyver sighting on the trail. No it wasn't Richard Dean Anderson, but it was a couple from Delaware doing a thru-hike. I love the show, and even have the first 3 seasons at home!

I have seen his name in the registers for a while, but he was always 1-2 days ahead. They started on March 1st. Glad I got to finally meet them. I am sure there will be people trying to catch up with me as well. It is kind of funny how this works. You read their entries & really get to know them, so when you finally met them...their like family.

Shepherd

Mountain Feast

Well, we made it into Franklin, NC at about 4:45 pm, without Captain Jack. We are unsure where he is. He shouldn't of been too far behind us, but he never showed up. Popeye is getting nervous about him, and will probably have to take a zero day tomorrow because of this.

Today was a day of firsts. Funny thing was this morning I didn't think that there would be anything exciting to talk about, but that wasn't the case.

First of all, I passed the 100 mile mark today! We did 15.9 miles (the most in one day!) We are officially 107.6 miles from Springer and 1068.6 miles to Katahdin. Wooo hooo! Popeye said after the first 100 miles the miles really start adding up...I sure hope so!

The other first was that I went the wrong way for the first time! It happened about 3 miles after I left the shelter this morning. I apparently took a blue blaze trail, and about 5 mins later I realized I was going the wrong way! Thankfully it wasn't like 1 hour until I noticed my goof. Popeye told me on his thruhike in 2001, he went 5 miles before realizing he was going on the wrong trail! So he went 21 miles for the day and only 11 of them counted for the AT!

Well after Mooney gap, the rain clouds started to form. So I pretty much ran up Albert Mnt, and once we got to Big Spring Shelter it started to rain! Then of course it continued to rain the rest of the day! I am so thankful I am in town tonight! Although tomorrow's forecast calls for even more rain and possibly hail in the higher elevations! So any prayers would be greatly appreciated for the storm to hit tonight or wait till tomorrow night! I do plan to stay in a shelter tomorrow!

Well Popeye and I are staying at the Sapphire Inn and right across the street is a restraunt called Mountain Feast...and feast we did! They had an AYCE buffet with fried chicken, beef sirloin & fried catfish! Oh, the fried catfish was sooo good! I did better this time on the AYCE...able to eat 2 plates full! That was because all I had today was poptarts, snickers, milky way, PB and cheese crackers and a handful of GORP.

Tomorrow I will get some denatured alcohol and head back to the trail around 9-9:30 in the morning. I plan on doing 15.8 miles tomorrow to Cold Spring Shelter.

Note: Captain Jack finally arrived at the motel at 6 pm. Popeye will be greatly relieved! Hopefully he won't have to take a zero day tomorrow and will continue to hike with me! Love their company!

Also, thanks Russel for checking out my blog and following me as I head to Maine! Appreciate the encouragement!

Lee: I never smell! I always smell like a fresh mountain spring! lol. Yeh, if I could only bottle it up and send it to you! ;O)

Scott: Thanks for spreading the word about my blog. You can tell anyone you want about it. I hope to get the people who do Trail Journals to check it out...that way they can allow people to update their journals right on the trail like me. Instead of having to do it later when they find a computer. I don't know anyone else who has tried this type of journal for the AT...hopefully it will catch on!

Shepherd

Breakfast Club

Day 11. Good morning all. Spent the night at the Sapphire Inn. For all you future thru-hikers, Ron Haven treats you right. He is awesome. For 35 bucks for a room with free shuttle to and from trail. Also they have shuttle services around town for free. So if you need to go into Franklin..check out Haven Budget Inn. 4 stars!

We are at Wilson's Diner for breakfast. Plan to finally eat something other than poptarts. Eggs and biscuits!

Well heavy rain is in the forecast with baseball size hail. Will only do 11 miles today to get to wayah shelter.

Here at breakfast is popeye, california joe, greg, macky, lil mak, chair, limestone, cahoda, krt, & silas.

Shepherd.

Drenched Thru-hiker

Praise God! I am alive and safe at Wayah Bald shelter. God is awesome, gracious & merciful. Here is the time line of my day.

0935: Dropped off at Winding stair gap by Ron Haven. Sun was out & beautiful morning, but I knew what was coming.
0940: Started hiking
1044: Made it to Siler Bald shelter. Literally running at times. No rain yet.
1100: Made it to top of Siler Bald
1120: Down in Walah Gap. First rumbles of thunder heard
1125: Sprinkeling now. 5.1 miles to go!
1140: Steady rain. Wayah bald is a killer! Umbrella out.
1150: Umbrella back in. Lots of lightening & thunder. rain heavier.
1250: Made it to Wayah Bald. Pouring buckets, with lighting and thunder. Trail a river of water & mud. Everything is soaked.
1310: Finally made it to shelter. Still raining. 4 other guys here.
1500: warming up as possible. Pea sized hail.

Lois: It was like George running for shelter in his trail journal. Although I didnt fall down!

Thank you for all your prayers!

Shepherd.

Wayah Shelter

Good morning everyone. Made it through the night once again. Cold, but warm in my sleeping bag. Only hailed aout 5 times yesterday - pea size. Each time I was in shelter! Sunny day forecasted today. Trying to make NOC today...16.5 miles away. Some clothes still wet.

Wendy: Happy Birthday! A day late. Wanted to post it yesterday, but because of the surprise party I couldnt.

Jason: Bon voyage! Will miss ya. Hope you enjoy Louisville. Atleast it isnt to far to visit!

Matthew: Have fun on your spring break. To bad you couldnt come hiking with me!

Shepherd

First Trail Angel

1030: Is this a mirage or the real thing? A huge tent in the middle of the woods, with food! Here is the full story.

Last night at the shelter, Jesse got a call from his friend who missed the shelter. Well he told him about this trail angel with a big tent and wood stove and hotdogs about 3.5 miles from the shelter. At this point it was pouring buckets still, and they werent sure if he was giving them the run around.

Well Jesse, Steve & CJ. decided to leave the comfort of the shelter to see if it was true, and brave the pouring rain.

Well I, being in warm dry clothes wasnt attempting the trek. So to my amazement this morning when I got to Burningtown Gap...here was the tent!

How cool. My first experience with trail magic & a trail angel. To God be te glory!

Shepherd

Apple

Well this is the trail angel...Apple. I dont know how well the picture turned out, since the lighting in the tent wasnt the best.

He is from Texas and has had the tent up for the past 10 days and will have it up for 4 more days. He has sectioned hiked from Springer to Hot Springs in the past.

The tent was very spacious. He had a large wood burning stove in the middle, and about 10-12 chairs strung out. He had coffee or hot chocolate to drinks and chips ahoy cookies to snack on! I had hot chocolate of course and 4 chewy cookies! Very nice snack in the morning!

well thanks again Apple! God bless.

Shepherd

Wesser Bald Observation Tower

This is the view from Wesser Bald. Since yesterday wasnt a good day for viewing the scenery from Wayah Bald, God allowed me to see it today! And what a site it was. You could see for miles 360 degrees...mountains everywhere! This is the view toward Fontana Dam and the Smokies, which I will come to real soon.

The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth
from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.
Psalm 50:1

Shepherd

NOC

Well day 12 is in the books. Officially hiked 16.5 miles (my longest so far). I am at the NOC, which is 134.9 miles Springer & 2041.3 miles to Katahdin. The NOC is the Nantahala Outdoor Center, which would be a nice place for a retreat. lol. Tomorrow I plan to do 16 miles to Brown Fork Gap Shelter, then to Fontana Dam the next day.

Thanks everyone for all the encouraging comments. They really help.

Russell: Great to meet ya. I hope to check out your program on YouTube when I get the chance! Lord willing I will have many opportunities to share my testimony, even if I can't I hope by my actions I stand out for God! Since I am His ambassador on this trek! I would be happy to hike with anyone out here.
Bill Bolander: When you get to this area when you start your hike. The 6.5 miles from Wesser tower to NOC is tough! Lots of steep up & downs. Not many switchbacks. Rivers end has great food. Wesser General store has limited food.

DaisyGirl: Yeh, glad my trail name isnt Cookie Monster!

Shepherd

Mule

Good morning & happy St. Patricks day. Well about to start off the day after eating a hearty breakfast at Rivers End. Scott mentioned that this morning will be tough...going up about 3500 ft in about 6-8 miles! Yeah baby. But I keep telling myself it is all down hill after that!
Well you maybe wondering what the picture is about. Any guesses to what type of fungus it is. I picked it because there is an interesting story to go with it, plus it is green for st. patty's day. I will give the answer tomorrow. Ok now the rest of the story.

Well I met this guy back on day 5. He started the trail caarrying a 65 lb pack! That is twice the weight of mine! Way to heavy for a thruhiker, hence he was quickly named Mule! When I met him, he had it down to 57 lb. Well the other interesting and odd thing about him was that he was on a 500 dollar budget for his thruhike! So in order to save money, he had beeen collecting the fungi in the picture & eating them with his food!

Happy Bday Eric! Hike on!

Brown Fork Shelter

Well as a tribute to the Red Couch, my favorite blog, I will post 10 things I learned today.

1. God is good even during the toughest days.
2. I am 16 miles farther than I was yesterday. this was my toughest day!
3. I am 150.9 miles from Springer & 2025.3 miles from Katadin.
4. I hate web walking, which means your the first one on the trail clearing all the cobwebs that were formed last night.
5. I hate getting out of my sleeping bag in the morning.
6. But I like hiiking in the coolness of the morning.
7. Loving Pastor Broggi's sermons on the book of Hebrews.
8. Having my first doubts on being able to complete the trail.
9. Been chewing the same piece of gum for the past 13 days. I will easily make 2 weeks.
10. And the greatest of them all...I get to see Amee in less than 8 days! I miss her sooo much!

So far it is just me in the shelter & the mice! Will have the oil out tonight.

Cheoah Bald was beautiful once you got to the top! Thanks Bob.

Shepherd

Welcome Mat

I just had to post about this. Jesse is quite the character. He is carrying a welcome mat with him, in which he puts his shoes on each night. To funny!

Scott: Have you done the Smokies? I hope they arent as bad as today.

Shepherd

Popeye

Good Morning. Day 14. Thanks for all the encouraging comments! It is amazing what a restful night in the shelter & some company will do for your spirits. Also today is only 12.8 miles. I think every thruhiker gets some doubts in the first week or two, it is just a matter of pushing through. This trek is something you cant prepare for at home, you just have to experience it. Plus I know that God wont give me any more than I can handle.

Well I also want you to meet Popeye, who is about a day behind me, so hopefully he'll catch up. He is from NJ, and is retired. He thruhiked it in 2001, then attempted it again last year. But, he had a heart attack on the trail 11 miles outside of Erwin. So he hiked the remaining 11 miles & hitched a ride to the hospital which confirmed the heart attack. So, now he is back again this year with proper heart meds, and a hiking buddy, Captain Jack. More on him tomorrow. Both are really good guys.

Shepherd

Fontana Dam

Well I am still alive. Have not had cell coverage since Fontana Dam. Here is an update of CJ & I's adventures.

This is me on day 14. California Joe & I hike into Fontana Village to resupply before heading into the Smokies. Things are going well. Much better spirits thanks to CJ and a pint of ice cream! Not Ben & Jerry's though, actually Mayfield's. Blueberry Cream Pie! Yum.

We stayed at the Fontana Hilton with Chief Daddy, Tarzan, Strides, Jesse, Tom, Bill & CJ. We had a huge bonfire thanks to Chief Daddy. He is quite the character. Strides, CJ & I are the only ones heading out into the smokies tomorrow due to a huge storm system coming in, everyone else is taking a zero.

Shepherd.