Category: The Hike

Day 20 Two Streams to Hot Springs, NC (15.7 miles) 273.4 total miles Light rain most of last night. Tent staying dry inside. Happy about that. Another foggy, windy, rainy day to hike in. They say the views from the top of some of these balds is fantastic. I wouldn't know! Below is Walnut Mtn.... Continue reading →

Day 21 Hot Springs, NC Zero Day A day of rest is a good thing. Lolled around most of AM. Chalet would be perfect if had TV and was not a half mile walk to town. Below is a hiker room when they come in from hiking in rain and need to dry stuff out. Nice,... Continue reading →

Day 22 Hot Springs, NC to Little Laurel Shelter (19.6 miles) 293.0 total miles Kind of tough getting up and going this AM but eventually got hiking about 9:30 AM.  Completed my fifth half mile walk to town from chalet. There were also 5 walks from to chalet from town. It's not that it's a... Continue reading →

Day 23 Little Laurel Shelter to Sugarloaf Gap (18.5 miles) 311.5 total miles Thunder, lightning, and rain last night. Rain for about 3 hours of hike today. Started raining right as I stopped to set up tent tonight and still raining now.   Pretty sure it's rained 6 straight days and I've been hiking 5... Continue reading →

Day 24 Sugarloaf Gap Zero Day It's rained for 26 hrs straight and still going. I've been hunkered down in my tent all day. This sucks! When I woke up this AM had cell service and was able to get weather forecast. 100% chance of rain most of today (they were right!). Rain chance for... Continue reading →

Day 25 Sugarloaf Gap to Spivey Gap (20.1 miles) 331.6 miles total Woke up this AM to no rain. Think it rained between 3-4 inches yesterday. Little bit of sunshine today! Decided to go big distance today and hitch ride to Erwin, TN where I can get room and dry everything out. Still following NC/TN... Continue reading →

Day 26 Spivey Gap to Nolichucky River (11.1 miles) 342.7 miles total Good day for hiking. Foggy most of hike. Temp in 50's. I also was able to "slack pack" as was able to leave tent, sleeping bag, food, etc. at hotel as returning tonight. Pack was probably half of normal weight. Drought in NC/TN... Continue reading →

Day 27 Nolichucky River to Apple Orchard (21.5 miles) 364.2 total miles Nice, sunny day. Hiking by 9:30. Ran into some trail magic about 9 miles in. Brother Tom had lemonade, sweet iced tea, brownies, and some really good banana bread. One of the best things with trail magic is being able to sit in... Continue reading →

Day 28 Apple Orchard to Stan Murray Campsite (17.7 miles) 381.9 total miles Didn't quite make it as far as hoped today. Got soaked by heavy rains last 2-3 hours of hike. Rain quit about 5PM and I found a place to pitch tent shortly after. Walking in rain is no fun but setting up... Continue reading →

Day 29 Stan Murray Campsite to US 19E (11.8 miles) 393.7 miles total Nice, sunny day and beautiful vistas. Nice day of hiking. Especially when you know you're hitting a town! This view is from Yellow Mtn (elev 5271). There was a Revolutionary War battle near here at Yellow Mtn Gap. The views today were... Continue reading →