Day +1 - Normals in the Mist

Today I begin a long study of Normals in their natural habitat‎. To prepare, I have tried to disguise myself as one of them by putting on "jeans" and "a shirt" (see attached Figure). Thus attired, I walked among them for a few hours. It's a grey and misty day, which seemed to help my cause. They were preoccupied with finding shelter and warmth, making it easier for me to pass mostly unnoticed. I did notice some minor alarm whenever a Normal did take note of my strange face, but they generally preferred to scurry indoors than worry about this hairy stranger.

All in all, they're a trusting species and allowed me to interact without incident. I was even welcomed to enjoy a meal at one of their "restaurants." If they were surprised by the amounts that I need to eat, they gave no sign of it. I am hopeful that, in time, I will be treated as just another Normal.

Day 155 - Nero (3/12/2016)

‎This morning the five of us (Flatlander, Blueberry Crisp, Lancelot, and Equinox) headed out for the last 8 miles of our journeys. Our final nero.  I'm deeply grateful to have shared my last 700 miles with them.

Tonight, I'm in a King size bed at the Amicalola Falls Lodge. Tomorrow, I start the drive home with Papa Wallaby.‎ I wonder what the next chapter will bring.

‎Wallaby out.

End: ‎Springer Mountain 

Total: 2,121.4 miles, (67.7 on fire)

Day 154 - One More Sleep (2/12/2016)

Hard to believe that 154 ‎days ago I used the same title before the start of this crazy journey. Today it's a propos. Flatlander has been campaigning for mid-day nap time since we started hiking together 700+ miles ago. She finally got her wish. She, Equinox, and I all slept cold (read, poorly) last night, so weren't moving well. After lunch we curled up in the sun and took a nap. It meant an hour or so of night-hiking, but it was worth it.

Tomorrow we summit. Amazing. I also get to see Papa Wallaby again. It promises to be a good day.

Start: Blood Mountain 

End: Hawk Mountain 

Distance: 21.2 miles

Remaining: 8.4 miles

Day 153 - So Close (1/12/2016)

Just 2 more sleeps now.

Not much happened other than walking. We stopped in at an outfitter in Neels Gap, where we got free ice cream and coffee. It turns out we're only a day behind Legs, Foggy, and Littlefoot!

Start: Blue Mountain

End: Blood Mountain

Distance: 21.2 miles

Total: 2,159.8‎ (30 to go!)

Day 152 - Just Section Hikers (30/11/2016)

I‎ realized this morning that we have 70 miles to do, no more resupplies, and when we finish, we go home. We're just short section hikers now.

It rained most of the day, including over an hour of serious downpours. It wasn't fun, but with only three days to go, I feel a bit like nothing can ruin the hiking now. Besides, with any luck the rain will improve the fire situation, and the forecast is for cool, but dry and sunny weather from now until Springer. We really can't complain.

Just 3 more sleeps until I'm bedding down in a king size bed at the Amicalola Falls Lodge.

Start: Dick's Gap / Top of Georgia Hostel 

End: Blue Mountain Shelter 

Distance: 19.1 miles

Total: 2,138.6

Day 151: 0 = 68 (29/11/2016)

This is it. The day we shuttle past the fires. Because my feet are so sore, I decided that I was going to hostel again near the Dick's Gap trailhead. The others also had less severe foot issues, so no one objected. Best of all, Equinox gave me a prescription strength Naproxen which helped enormously and by the end of the day my feet felt fine. Not great, but the soreness was dull enough that I figured drugs, sports tape, and desperation to finish with the trail family would keep me going.

We got around the fires thanks to the generosity of a friend of Flatlander's who drove 3 hours to pick us up, let us resupply in Hiawassee, then left us at the hostel. We cannot be grateful enough.

Speaking of the trail family, Lancelot reappeared this morning!! He pulled 30 mile days, hiking late into the night to catch up, so we're all together again. It seems Equinox (a German PhD student living in DC) has been adopted as well, so we're thinking of renaming ourselves Katie and the Foreigners. Lancelot is an honorary Canadian, because Connecticut kind of sounds similar. It was either that, or rename himself Katie. 

Since we had a kitchen at the hostel, we made risotto and brownies for dinner. It turns out it is possible to make too much food even for 5 hungry hikers. Still, it was a nice candle lit dinner with wine and friendship. I'm going to miss this group.

In less cheerful news, Gatlinburg is burning to the ground and all of the Smoky Mountains is now closed to AT hikers. Several friends have been evacuated, including Trout. Luckily no one has been physically harmed, but it's a sad situation.

In the end, we're 67.7 miles further down the trail without any hiking. We're also in Georgia, the last state on the trail. The end is truly nigh.

Tomorrow the forecast is for cold and rain. Wet feet are at the root of my foot issues, so it could be a challenge but... only 4 more sleeps to Springer!!

Start: Nantahala Outdoor Center 

End: Top of Georgia Hostel

Distance: 0/67.7 miles

Total: 2,119.5 miles

Day 150 - (Un)Happy Feet (28/11/2016)

Today we head to the Nantahala Outdoor Center, which has a restaurant and hostel. I'm determined to get there before dark both because I'm really tired of night hiking, and because the restaurant closes at 6pm and I really want a beer.

We made it, but only just and I've all but destroyed the undersides of my feet. I can barely walk, but I did get a huge amount of food (a trout cake, followed by a pizza, and an apple cobbler + 2 delicious craft beers). Not only that, but when we asked for the bill, our waitress told us an anonymous trail angel had already picked up the tab leaving us only the tip to take care of! Needless to say we tipped well (and she'd have deserved it in any case). A happy end to a painful day.

Now I go to bed showered and warm. Word is that there are new fire-related closures in the Smoky Mountains. An access road is closed (making Gatlinburg inaccessible), and a shelter. The trail is still open, but you have to go into the park with enough food to hike it's entirety. We're grateful that we got there when we did.

Tomorrow a friend of Flatlander's is shuttling us around the fires, and then it'll be 3.5 more days to Springer!!

Start: Cable Gap Shelter

End: Nantahala Outdoor Center 

Distance: 21.9 miles

Total: 2,059.9 miles