Category: AT 2017

That’s right!  Bye, bye Tennessee. Another state off the list.  Approximately one quarter of the Trail is in Virginia. So, I’ll be here awhile. Hopefully around five weeks. Or less.  My lunch was from a local hotspot. Chicken Philly cheesesteak. And since it’s Sunday in the South, dinner was from the same place. Meatloaf. And […]

Last nights camp was high on a bluff, near a large granite outcropping, that overlooked Watauga Lake.  From the vista, you could look down into a large marina. I think I first awoke to the sound of birds. What kept me awake was the sound of the bass boats. All racing to the best fishing […]

My day started off good. A calm, peaceful walk along a babbling brook. Then descended into a gorge and a grand waterfall. The morning walk lasted about another mile.  Then the Trail turned uphill. Again another big, demanding climb. My pace was good. It was about an hour and half ascent. The temperature started to […]

Last night, home was a small tent site along a creek. I arrived later in the evening and was “carded” on arrival. I may have been the youngest tenter there. We shared hiker stories and it was lights out by 8:30.  About two miles into today’s hike, I happened on a bench, in the middle […]

Awoke to the slightest hint of sunshine and rising cloud layer. The 100% humidity has just about everything wet or damp. I am still warm, and dry at night, but I hope today is the day the weather turns.  Boy. Howdy! Today was the most awesome and glorious day of hiking yet. If I were […]

I’m tired of mud! That is all.  The privy.  The view. 

Last night, on the way to Walmart, Mike wanted to check for bee swarms. We found two. Shuttle plans changed and the bee keepers jumped into action. While I was eating, Mike paid the price. He had an equipment malfunction and was stung multiple times to the face and neck.  Needless to say bee keeping […]

I guessed right on the weather. It’s been raining for more than 24 hours. It was an unplanned zero day, but I’m sure glad I had a roof over my head. Conditions on trail must have been horrible. Cold and wet.  Most of my day was quite unproductive. Watching Netflix and searching the internet. I […]

Here’s a new hiker term for you. Slackpacking. It’s when you leave all unnecessary gear behind, usually at a hostel, and either hike forward and get shuttled back. Or shuttle forward and hike back.  That’s what I did today. Mike shuttled me forward about 12 miles and I hiked back to Erwin. Southbound on the […]

Always a great day when you hit a trail town. Today it was the 3C’s…chips, cerveza, and carnitas. Boy do I miss good Mexican food.  But enough with the food.  I called from the top of the mountain and secured the last room at Cantarroso Farm. The owners, Mike and Peggy are awesome. I have […]