2017 Appalachian Hike

Another awesome day. Maybe the best all around day.  I was on the trail at 7:15 today and immediately climbed to Little Hump Mountain.  Then it was on to Hump Mountain. It was magnificent. The sun was out, the birds were singing and the view was incredible. I’m sure again that pictures won’t do it… Continue reading Overmountain Shelter-Mountaineer Shelter. 402.5 done/1787.3 to go. April 11, 2017

The first thing I want to say today is thank you. Thanks for reading my blog. I also want you to know that I see and read all the comments. On Facebook, twitter and my blog site. I try to like them all. I rarely comment though. The reason is that I’m constantly rationing my… Continue reading Cherry Gap Shelter-Overmountain Shelter. 384.5 done/1805.3 to go. April 10, 2017. 

It’s amazing how one day the trail gets into your head and the next day can be glorious.  The weather was perfect. Started out in the 30’s and I think when I was at lower altitudes it was around 70.  I hiked my longest day yet. 23.3 miles. Engineer and I were the only ones… Continue reading No Business Knob Shelter-Cherry Gap Shelter. 359.8 done/1830.0 to go. April 9, 2017. 

I ate a lot while I was in town yesterday. There is this thing we call “hiker hunger “. While on the trail most people don’t consume near the calories they are burning. My typical day begins with breakfast being a Clif Bar or oatmeal depending on whether I feel like cooking or not. Lunch… Continue reading Sam’s Gap-No Business Knob Shelter. 336.5 done/1853.3 to go. April 8, 2017. 

BIG MISTAKE! I should have respected the forecast more and also factor in that Mother Nature can be less predictable in the mountains.  I should have accepted the offer of trail magic from Doug and Deb. Or I should have stopped at the hostel when I had a chance.  Like I told you yesterday I… Continue reading Hogback Ridge Shelter-Sam’s Gap. 318.2 done/1871.6 to go. April 7, 2017. 

Today Deb and I got up early. It wasn’t raining. We wanted to be hiking as soon as it got light. We ate a bar for breakfast. No cooking.  As we were putting our packs on to leave it started raining. We hiked pretty hard just to make time in the bad weather. We hiked… Continue reading Jerry Cabin Shelter-Hogback Ridge Shelter. 315.8 done/1874.0 to go. April 6, 2017. 

Slept well last night in the bunkhouse.  I met a nice guy that is hiking with his dog. He and the dog stayed in our bunkhouse. His name is King James and his dog is Moja. He got the name King James because of the big Bible he’s carrying in his pack. He is also… Continue reading Log Cabin Drive-Jerry Cabin Shelter. 300.3 done/1889.5 to go. April 5, 2017

Today’s weather was perfect so we put in a long day. 17 miles. We wanted to get as far as we could today because it sounds like rain is a sure thing for tomorrow. Deb and I would like to get to the next shelter 11 miles from here so we don’t have to set… Continue reading Hot Springs NC-Log Cabin Drive. 289.7 done/1901.1 to go. April 4, 2017. 

Today was kind of a crazy day.  I slept last night perhaps better than I have since I’ve been on the trail. I was in my tent and the temperature was perfect. Fifty degrees maybe. I didn’t have to think about mice and I was plenty tired from the days hike.  I got up around… Continue reading Deer Park Mountain Shelter-Hot Springs, NC. 273.4 done/1916.0 to go. April 3, 2017

Deb Dop and I hiked almost 15 miles today. Farther than we intended. I already have my trail legs, but Deb doesn’t. The shelters were not spaced apart for us very well. Leaving Roaring Fork it was 4.8 miles to the next shelter. To short. We were there before 11:00am. The next one after that… Continue reading Roaring Fork Shelter-Deer Park Mountain Shelter. 270.2 done/1919.6 to go.