2017 Appalachian Hike

I’m posting this without most of the pictures. I am almost out of battery charge and there is no sun to use my solar charger. I may have to put some days together as the forecast looks cloudy and rainy the next several days. 

I slept very well last night. I did get up at midnight just to see the stars. The moon was only half but very bright. My campsite was a nice soft grass so I didn’t even have to put shoes on. 

I got up about 5:00 and started breaking down camp. The moon was still so bright that I was able to start hiking at 6:00 with no headlamp.  

Elk Garden was beautiful. I wish I could have been there by sunrise. 

The best part of the day was Grayson Highlands. The wild ponies were interesting. 

I then hiked most of the afternoon in the drizzle and rain. I hiked for about an hour with a girl named Panda. I made it 23 miles today. Pretty uneventful day. Engineer caught up with me. He showed up about an hour after me. 

At this shelter is Engineer, Gloves, Panda. There are three southbound hikers here. Nicorette, Committed and Trail Stripper. 

Today’s gear review is my hat. I chose it because I just had to buy a new one while I was in Damascus. Here’s before and after. 

First of all I had to get a new one because the first one was all cotton and way to hot. It had no ventilation and quite frankly was getting pretty gross. My new one is a lighter, quicker fabric and is ventilated. After two days I’m much happier with it. 

I’ve never been a hat wearer. I don’t really like them. But to keep the sun off my ears, face and my thin spot on my head I need it.