Journal Entries

We just hiked through our first cow pasture and are climbing our first fence stile, a new feature on the trail.

Getting closer to the trail magic.

Day 44 - Watauga Lake (via shuttle from Dennis Cove Road) to campsite

12.7 miles

We said goodbye to cabin #2 at Black Bear Resort this morning. We made arrangements with the YWAM team to drive us back to where we got off the trail at Watauga Lake and to help us slackpack for the first 4 miles. We wanted to give @toesalad the best start back on the trail as possible.

Got started hiking around 8:30. The morning was beautiful with mist rising off the lake.

We picked up our packs from the YWAM truck at Wilbur Dam Road, where they were providing support to their own team.

Climbed the ridge for the rest of the morning. The morning mists turned into muggy heat. We met the Germans Joe and Runny Nose, who gave us bars.

We stopped early today, around 3pm, because of @toesalad 's foot and because of threat of thunderstorms. The rain hit just as the tents were set up.

I had time to take a sponge bath, which was nice after all the hot hiking today. The rain let up during the time @toesalad was cooking supper.

Just as we started to eat the Lost Boys walked through. It was so nice to see them again. We also saw Ungerwhere and Bamboo who are with YWAM.

It was a good evening. Supper was all cleaned up and I was in bed by 7:30.

Day 43 - Zero at Black Bear Resort, Dennis Cove Road

0 miles

We decided to stay another night which means that today was a full zero day. It was a much needed break for Damien and I. Our days off trail are usually not breaks at all as we are busy with resupply tasks. I took the opportunity to do some laundry today and we did computer work but there was no shopping or food bags to pack, no trips to the post office. And yet every day we don't hike we are concerned about our overall mileage and being diligent in our pace so we can finish in the six month time window we have.

Being here, in this sweet cabin with its curtains blowing in the breeze reminds me how much I miss domesticity.

People have told me we are some of the cleanest (and least smelly) thru-hikers they've met. That's because, as much as possible, I scrub our clothes before throwing them in a washing machine. A washing machine can only do so much and if they go in trail filthy they don't come out "clean" only "clean-er".

To be sure, compared to regular people, we are still dirty and we are smelly, but maybe not as much as the average thru-hiker.

Our cabin, home for 2 nights, at Black Bear Resort.

Day 42 - river campsite to Watauga Lake

6.3 miles

Today was not as planned.

We started out this morning with plans to hike a 15 mile day to Vandeventer Shelter.

But after summiting the deceptively named Pond Flats (it's 1,600 ft up and then down) and stopping for quick swim break at Watauga Lake @toesalad 's foot was in quite a bit of pain. The steady hiking since his wasp/yellow jacket sting back at Campbell Hollow Rd has aggravated his foot, causing significant swelling. It is painful for him to walk.

So we've decided to take a break while we still have easy access to road crossings, rides, accommodations and hostels.

While we the kids were swimming we called for a shuttle and found accommodations for the night. We were picked up at the lake and in a couple minutes of driving we were back to Dennis Cove Road, the same road we crossed last night where the trail magic was, and rented a private cabin at Black Bear Resort.

We're at Black Bear Resort now and I have been icing (ice!) and wrapping @toesalad's foot. While he rests the kids and I are relaxing. Enjoying lots of processed, high calorie foods from the store and watching movies.

I am delightfully surprised to find myself in a cabin tonight.

The hike was beautiful today, the azaleas are aflame orange and yellow on the trail (pink on the domesticated varieties here at Black Bear Resort). We saw a turtle and a snake and the kids got to go swimming.

Today is Mother's Day and I thought yesterday's trail magic and river site campsite were my gifts but this cabin and break from the trail is an amazing gift, though unfortunate for @toesalad

This is what happens when you wear the same wool shirt day in and day out with a backpack.

We stopped at Watauga Lake to have a swim and I had a keen sense of being "hiker trash", in the proud way hikers self-identify. We have no swimming suits, just shorts and sports bras. Our clothes are tattered. We stop for an hour and then continue on our journey as other families move in for the day with beach chairs, inflatables, blankets, and portable grills. We look with envy at their summer picnic food, the grilling meats and summer salads, a day at the beach. People spending a day outdoors, taking a break from their lives. We live outdoors and we too enjoy the hour at the beach as a break from our lives as hikers.