Day 8

03/08/12 - Hiawassee - 69.6 miles

Our first "nero" day and first day in town.  We woke this morning to heavy fog and hiked about 2.4 miles to Dicks Creek Gap.  There, the other thru-hikers were waiting to be picked up by the Budget Inn shuttle.  About 13 of us total.  The shuttle came and we got a room with two beds, bathroom, shower, TV & coin laundry!  Ate some breakfast at Huddle House with John and Bread'n'Butter.  Good conversation with them.  Dried out and cleaned up then resupplied at Ingles and ate dinner at Zaxby's with a mint Oreo Blizzard at Dairy Queen.  Did some blogging and now in bed for a nice comfy sleep.  We are exhausted.  When we were walking back from Ingles, GoodDeeds offered us a beer.  I accepted and we talked for a bit with him, Salty, MellowYellow, Chief, and Cicada.  I enjoyed that.

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Months later, Anna and I would still talk about that dinner in Hiawassee.  One of our favorites.

Self portrait as we reviewed our Ingles resupply in a gazebo.

Day 7

03/07/12 - McClure Gap - 67.2 miles

This is the earliest we've been in camp so far.  Bear bag has been hung, dinner eaten, and we are in our tents with the sun still up.  I think it's about six or so.  We are at a campsite with one other guy, Pittsburgh Paul, who is camping in his hammock.  Today was a pretty difficult hiking day – lots of ups and downs and steep climbs.  Only a couple minor blisters on my feet, but my knee is doing better, and the rest of my body seems to be doing alright.  Though I feel like I'm constantly having to poop.  And I hate pooping in the woods.  Who woulda thought for a thru-hiker, huh?

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We met Pittsburgh Paul that one night and did not see him again until the day we left Harpers Ferry.

Day 6

03/06/12 - Cheese Factory Site - 56.6 miles

13.4 mile day!  For me, started off kind of glum, but after talking with KitFox and Animal, pooping twice, and getting some fig newtons from Old Hiker, things were looking up.  I was able to upload a few video updates to the blog and send a few texts.  We're about a day away from Hiawassee – the first of our hiker towns.  Right now we're camped at an old cheese factory site, which seems completely random to us.  Cicada, Sunshine, Rocky, and Chief are here, too.  This was the first day KitFox and I exceeded our expected miles for the day.  Tomorrow, maybe Deep Gap Shelter.  It is a full moon.

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Day 5

03/05/12 - Low Gap Shelter - 43.2 miles


This morning we waited for the Neels Gap store to open, then opted for the pack shake down.  It was a very humbling / sad experience.  I dropped 8 lbs. total... including my camera and my GoPro, along with many other little things I felt like I should have kept.  But when I put that pack back on, I could feel it.  And it felt so good.  I also got a knee brace, and it made a huge difference.  Today, Anna and I did about 11 miles, and the last 4.5 were done in about 2 hours.  We got a late start (eating hiker heaven food and drinking Diet Coke and OJ) so we wanted to push ourselves to try and make up time.  Now our tents are pitched down from the shelter by a nice babbling brook.  It's cold and peaceful.  Thank you, Lord.

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Day 4

03/04/12 - Neels Gap - 31.7 miles

Woke up earlier this morning and caught the sunrise.  SO COLD.  Mountain winds were chilling us all day.  Hiked up and over Blood Mountain (snow flurries) and met some other thru-hikers.  Arrived at Neels Gap with every delicacy imaginable.  I bought a knee brace, a Philly cheese steak, two slices of pizza and two diet cokes.  Anna bought some Aquamira droplets, a chicken cheese chimichanga, two slices of pizza and an orange Fanta.  Talked with Baltimore Jack for a bit.  Super nice guy with a lot of good advice and encouragement.  Anna and I are doing laundry now, then headed behind the building where our tents are set.  The hostel was full for tonight.

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Neels Gap, the only place where the AT goes through a building

Day 3

03/03/12 - Big Cedar Mountain - 22.1 miles

Today was another tough one.  10 miles, but difficult.  We both feel like a mile on the AT is different than a mile in the real world.  Tomorrow is another 10 mile day over Blood Mountain and to Neels Gap.  Possibly laundry and a hostel stay at Neels Gap.  We'll see.  This evening Anna and I found a campsite near the summit of Big Cedar Mountain.  We ate dinner as the sun set behind us and watched the sky darken over the mountain range.  A city of lights came alive far below and across the horizon.  It's getting colder.  This morning was cold, and this evening is another cold one – possibly getting below freezing.  Gonna try to get an earlier start tomorrow... without setting an alarm.  Hmm...

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Day 2

03/02/12 - Between Horse and Cooper Gap - ≈12 miles

OUCH.  My left shoulder and right knee are kicking my butt.  Today was tough.  We were shooting for Justus Creek about 2.5 miles further up... but we were both too tired... myself especially.  Anna has been fantastic!  The wind and fog has been incredible.
*CRAZY thunderstorms in the night!

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Today we drove up to Woody Gap (where we would pass through on our third day).  Lots of snow coming down on the mountains.  Absolutely beautiful.  Picked up some coffee and donuts for the hikers, and gave seven of them a ride into town to escape the snow.  Two of them, Mama Squirrel and Ciento, recognized us because they had seen our video!