Journal Entries

The sun comes out at the very end of the day and in the last hour or so of our hike before we reach the shelter.

Walking through the parking lot at Newfound Gap. It's so strange to move through an area, at a walking pace, that you recently went past, at a driving speed. We drove past this parking lot when we were shuttled off the mountain yesterday and back on the mountain today. It took us hours to walk here and mere minutes to drive.

@celine and @toesalad in the misty woods.

Back on the trail.

Day 22 - Silers Bald Shelter to Clingmans Dome

4.8 miles

Beautiful, blue sky day.

This morning we ate our first meal of the day on the trail so we could get out of camp by 7:30. We were still late by 20 minutes meeting @hikingmama at Clingmans Dome.

The morning was beautiful and the terrain was easy but I was still in a foul mood over the last two days of hiking. I was cranky about my calf pain (which has lessened today thankfully) and being forced to sleep in shelters and the lack of privacy that afforded me while I was feeling so low.

When Wendy met us my mood perked up considerably and I was so happy to get out of the mountains for a night.

This afternoon we did our resupply at Bryson City and ate lunch at a diner in town. I did laundry, email and did some work on our video series while the kids watched TV.

Tonight we ate a late spaghetti dinner with our new friends and I felt really relaxed enjoying great conversation and laughter. This is exactly what I needed.

On our way to Clingmans Dome.

Padawan @celine leaving Silers Bald Shelter.

Day 21 - Russell Field Shelter to Silers Bald Shelter

14.7 miles

Today is Easter Sunday but when you're on the trail you don't notice holidays, just as you don't differentiate between weekend days or weekdays.

It was beautiful today, the trail was picturesque in many places, the wildflowers are blooming, the sun was shining. But even all this did little to ease my mood.

My calf discomfort from yesterday worsened and because it was too painful to walk with a pack @toesalad carried it for me, the last 10 miles of the day. It would be nice to simply stop and take a long rest when you experience discomfort and pain but with five of us, if we did that, there would be many days we wouldn't hike at all. To make sure we can keep moving forward and not run out of days to finish the trail @toesalad bears the extra burden when necessary, to lighten our loads, to keep us going. A day off trail would be ideal, this is second best I guess. I'm thankful he does this. In truth, I feel we couldn't do this trip if he wasn't willing to take care of us like this.

I took my first ibuprofen today.

The trail today was lots of ups and downs, not as rolling as the guide had me believe.

We were all tired when we arrived at the shelter tonight.

After such a difficult day and the bit of shame I feel for not having carried my pack for most of today, I was not looking forward to a shared sleeping space, but I think it will be ok.

I perked up after we arrived and ate supper.

Everyone here is so kind: the Lost Boys, Gandolf, Lover Boy and Belch, a dad with his daughter (not thru-hikers), Nooga, Muzzle and the Military Men.

Spring wildflowers in the smokies.