NOC- Gatlinburg

Writing from the Grand Prix in Gatlinburg. Didn't originally plan to stop here but it got  cold last night so everyone else decided to go to town. I diddnt want to be alone on the top of a freezing mountain so I came with them. Taking an unexpected zero day today, the road back to the trail closed and diddnt open back up until 1. Supposed to get down to around 7○ tonight and im sure I would not be exactly comfortable so I will be spending the day in the fabulous Gatlinburg, TN.

Its been about 70 miles since the NOC, been pushing around 13-16 miles a day. Slept in a shelter every night, been too lazy to set up my tent. Got to Fontana Dam on the 3rd day out of the NOC. Thought about pushing 23 miles on the 2nd day but my knees have been bothering me. Had trail magic again from Fresh Grounds at the Fontana Hilton. Took a nero day at the Hilton and hit the smokeys the next day. Rained most of the day and was (surprise) smokey in the smokey mountains. Arrived at Double Gap shelter a few days later where a helicopter was dropping privy (outhouse) supplies, so no toilet tonight. A few week hikers had reservations at the shelter and no one felt like leaving so we crammed about 20 people in a 12 person shelter (wasn't cold though). About 6 inches of snow the next day but wasnt too cold once I started moving. Clingsman Domes (which is the highest point of the AT) lack of view was disappointing as well as being very cold and windy. After Clingsman it was cold and snowy until getting into Gatlinburg.  Got a ride into town from a nice family out for spring break who had never heard of the AT. Checked into the Grand Prix and ate 2 free 10 inch pizzas and probaly around a liter and a half of mellow- yellow from Big Daddy's Pizza which just so happened to be celebrating its birthday. Took a zero the next day, just watched TV movies and explored Gatlinburg. Ate at Five Guys for dinner which was just what i was craving. Switched hotels to the Microtel last night because promise of free breakfast and a nicer room. Breakfast was a only some oatmeal, cereal, doughnuts, and bagels but was good nonetheless. Getting back on the trail around 12.

*some pictures may not show up. Sorry this app doesn't like to work.

Hiawassee - Nantahala Outdoor Center

Day7: Dicks Creek Gap- Plumorachard Shelter. 4 miles
I think today would classify as a Nero or a nearly zero day. Started hiking around 1pm after a fantastic nights sleep and an even better homemade breakfast. Got a ride from a man who's wife is hiking the trail to resupply for food. After hiking for about 2 miles I realised I forgot my wallet, luckily after hope and a few hours it was returned by another thruhiker. Stayed the remainder of the day and night in the shelter as well as having a fire until it was dark.

Day 8: Plumorachard Shelter- Standing Indian Shelter: 12 miles
Actually got up after the sun had started coming up today! Hiked about 4 miles and crossed into North Carolina! Immediately after crossing into NC I faced 2 steep mountains back to back, not fun . Crossed the 100 mile mark shortly before arriving at the shelter (half expecting a congratulatory party with cake). Got to the shelter around 3, thought about moving on due to it pretty crowded but decided to stick around.

Day 9: Standing Indian Shelter- Long Branch Shelter: 17 miles
Rain...all day....nonstop. Not the best hiking day, in the 40s and pouring for most of the day. Took a long break at a shelter where a bunch of people just diddnt feel like going out...wimps. Soon after eating lunch and sitting down I began shaking and getting very cold, I had to take off my wet clothes and jump into my sleeping bag. After about a hour I wasn't as cold and decided to keep trekking to the next shelter. After my break the rain let up a little and temperature increased. Had my hardest climb yet at Mt. Albert, which was hand over foot. Got to the shelter shortly after with everything soaked.

Day 10: Long Branch Shelter- Siler Bald Shelter: 13 miles
Got a late start, around 10:45  because of it still raining, I wasn't about to in that again. Entire day was spent hiking in a cloud, not nearly as bad as yesterday. Some people decided to hitch into Franklin but I had plenty of food and just wanted to keep moving. Stayed at Siler Bald shelter which is .5 miles away but had some nice views.Supposed to get cold tonight but someone left a tarp so there should be less wind.

Day 11: Siler Bald Shelter- Wessar Bald Shelter: 17 miles
Good day! Nice views entire day and nice, cool hiking weather. Listened to music for the first time today and it was the best thing ever. Lot of ups and downs but some flat areas as well to even it out. I assumed a group of hikers calling themselves "The Herd" were going to be there, so I planned to tent but luckily they weren't. Made a thruhiker famous dish, instant mashed potatoes and ramen for dinner and was ready for bed.

Day 12:Wessar Bald- NOC:7 miles

Woke up this morning knowing it was going to be a painful day. Almost all downhill with a few surprise uphills. Got to the NOC around 11:00, got a room in the hostel, and a burger with some other hikers. Bought a liner,  hat, and a mini multitool (lost my other one) might also buy some superfeet insoles, my current standard ones are already falling apart. Just hanging around with other hikers the rest of the day.

Update!

Sorry about not posting more often, belive me I feel worse then I should about it. Cell service out here has not been as good as I thought and the Blogger app doesn't work half the time (plus once at camp I dont really feel like writing) so I think from now on daily posts will be under one post. For example, my next stop is at the NOC so the next post will summarize all the days spent between Hiawassee and the NOC, which I think will be about 6 days.

I would also like to say the AT is much harder then expected. Even after reading every book on it I couldn't understand the amount of physical and mental fortitude needed for this journey (and I just started!). Nevertheless Iam going to stand strong and push through until I conqure this thing.
Happy St. Patrick's Day
- Mumbles

Day 6 Tray Mt.- Blueberry Patch Hostel

11 mile day to Dicks Creek Gap and staying at the Blueberry Patch Hostel. Last night was about 19○ not counting wind,  but I slept pretty well while others in the shelter barely shut an eye. Was sore again today but if feeling normal it would be a fairly easy hike. Got to Dicks Creek around 2:30 and met the owner,Gary who came to pick up another group of hikers but took us as well. After getting situated at the hostel I took a fantastic shower and changed into some clean clothes donated to the hostel. Gary took us to an all you can eat pizza place where we had the best pizza I probaly ever had. Gary picked us back up took us back to the hostel and just relaxed the rest of the night. Got my trail name at the hostel from this moment on I shall know as Mumbles ( if you've ever heard me talk then you would understand.)

Day 5: Blue Mt.- Tray Mt.

Forgot  to write anything today. Sorry! Just climbed some mountains.

Day 4: Neels Gap- Blue Mountain Shelter

Started today with very sore legs and thinking about a 7 mile day. I  pretty much destroyed that, doing a little less then 19 miles. Started hiking around 8:20 and after about 45 mins I was feeling great. Passed a group of hikers about 2 miles in that were just waking up. When I got to Cowrock Mountain I took the wrong way, hiking a mile in the wrong direction ( nice views though). After getting back on track and a steep descent we had trail magic from a church in Damascus.  They had all sorts of snack foods like granola bars and oatmeal cream pies as well as homemade knit hats. Immediately after I faced a steep uphill followed by a few miles of realitivily  flat trail. Practically ran the last mile to Low Gap shelter to use the privy (outhouse) which I just barely made, thank God. The next 7 miles to Blue Mountain were easy up until towards the end where there were all up hill and rocks. At the last 3 miles I ran out of water and by the end I was practically fantasizing about it. Finally got to Blue Mountain at around 5, the shelter was pretty much full so I decided to tent. Going to try and get to Tray Mt. Tomorrow

Day 3: Woodys Gap- Neels Gap

* somehow the posts for the next 3 days got deleted then magically showed up today so here they are.

 Woke up today at around 5:30 and stayed in my bag until sunrise. Fresh Grounds decided to stay the night and make everyone breakfast, on the menu was fresh fruit, coffee, scrambled eggs, and bananna pancakes. The morning started out cold but quickly warmed up especially after hiking a few minutes. Expecting a big climb and my legs being sore from the last few days I popped a few ibuprofen and was ready. Today offered views of the Georgia mountains for most of the day. I got to Blood Mtn. at around 12:30 but felt like it took forever, definilty well worth it. After a steep rocky decline I got to Neels Gap (I'm guessing around 3). A few thruhikers were here talking and walking around and there was also a tedious game of giant jenga later on. The store at Neels Gap called Mountain Crossings had the most hiking equipment I have ever scene in one spot, it definitely had everything a hiker could ever want. I only bought a few food items I probaly won't need but wanted so much more. Tenting again tonight behind Neels, have no idea where im headed tomorrow, depends on my legs. Should be in Hiawassii in a few days.

Day 2: Hawk Mt. Shelter- Woody Gap

Woke up around 7am and had a nice poptart breakfast watching the sun rise. Started hiking around 8 and about an hour after was faced with 2 steep mountains back to back-(they were not particularly fun). Got to Gooch Mountain Shelter around 12 and was met with trail magic galore: hot dogs, m&ms, honey buns, and more, (we ate a lot.) Once we got to Gooch Gap we were met with even more trail magic, I snagged half a pack of thin mints and some rice crispies. Hiked another long 3.5 miles and got to Woody Gap where Fresh Grounds' Leapfrog Cafe provied us with free spaghetti an hotdogs, very awesome. A hard 12 mile day but well worth it.

Day 1

Woke up, had breakfast at the hotel, and drove about 45 minutes to Amicolola Falls. I got to the visitors center at about 9am and checked in as thru-hiker #292. Got to the trail head and started around 10:30, hiked 9 mostly easy miles to Hawk Mt. Shelter. I could have hiked further (arriving at 2:30) but would most likely not be in a shelter and risk getting already developing blisters. Today the weather was awesome being in the 60s all day. I'm most likely going to tent tomorrow because rumor has it there will be trail magic.

Tomorrow...

Well, the day has finally come, tomorrow I will begin my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. I have decided not to do the approach trail (not acually part of the AT) unless the road to Springer Mt. is closed which is usually due to weather but tomorrow's looks pretty good, high in the mid 60s and partly cloudy. I'm not getting as early of a start as I would have liked due to the visitors center not opening until 9am but I should still be able to knock out 8 miles. I really hope I will be able to sleep tonight but I doubt that will happen.

One More Week!

If you've read any of my previous posts you would know that my original start date was March 5th but due to it being on a Wednesday and me living 11.5 hours away by car I had to push it back to the weekend. Not a huge problem but in my mind March 5th was "The Day" for the last 6 months and now its not. Because of my slightly later start date I might choose not to do the approach trail (the 8 mile trail to the trail) just because it helps keep to my original timeline and its not actually part of the trail. The realization of what exactly I'm doing has started to hit me but I suspect I wont fully know what I'm getting myself in to until I start hiking. Only recently have I actually started having my first worries about my thru-hike. My greatest worry is that I will not enjoy it as much as I plan to making me want to go home. I am not in as good as shape as I wanted to be at this time but from what I've heard most people get in decent hiking shape after a few weeks in. These last few days I plan to do as much stuff that will not be possible while on the trail such as playing video games until I induce a headache, watching a bunch of Netflix, see people I will not for 5 months, and to soak up as much internet as possible. Only 7 days left, can't wait!