Journal Entries

Eating supper around the communal fire. This is not what you'd expect from a hike in the woods but some campsites are very packed. This is the most crowded we've experienced so far.

Day 13 - Winding Stair Gap to Siler Bald Shelter

4.2 miles

Had a busy morning shopping for food, doing laundry and taking care of mail. Shipping and receiving stuff along the trail is handy but it also complicates our town stops.

@toesalad and the kids packed the food, the Easts provided pizza for lunch (pizza....) and we were able to get back on the trail by 4pm. (2 hours later than we hoped. It's hard to get out on a schedule, always so much to do.)

Siler Bald is 4.2 miles from Winding Stair Gap, plus the .5 mile access trail. Even a half mile feels so long at the end of the day.

The Lost Boys, as I'm calling Viking and his gang, are here tonight. Along with Jack & Diane. The Lost Boys were happy to see us. And the kids were thrilled to have met up with them again.

Everyone climbed on the roof of the shelter for a photo op. The boys had packed in a box of wine and shared some with me. It's good to be back on the trail.

The moon is amazing tonight.

A hiker setting up camp at a stream crossing .3 miles from Winding Stair Gap towards Siler Bald Shelter.

Day 12 - Betty Creek Gap to Winding Stair Gap

12.2 miles

Nice weather: Clear, sunny, windy and warm.

Managed to leave camp by 8:30 this morning. The hike today was mostly uninspiring and we were highly anticipating our town stop and resupply, hosted by the East family. Are we there yet?

At 10 am we climbed Albert Mountain, which we had heard was rough but was really no problem.

Hiking down into Winding Stair Gap I was really tired, as I am at the end of all our days.

We arrived at Winding Stair Gap at 3:45 and met Nancy's husband Larry, who picked us up to drive us to their home. He brought trail magic: lemonade, beer, and Nancy's homemade toffee.

On the way to the East home, near Waynesville, NC we stopped in Franklin at Three Eagles Outfitters to get Padawan a pair of trekking poles.

Nancy prepared a feast for supper of BBQ trout and portobellos, sweet potatoes with caramelized onions, fresh salad, and peanut noodles. Dessert was caramel cake, apparently a southern classic.

Tonight was a whirlwind of email and unpacking and setting up the new tent, to replace the leaky Tarp Tent. The East's friends stopped by and we were mostly too busy to chat. I find that hard; all the work we have to do in a town stop and how little time we have to get to know our hosts.

A very full day.

Day 11 - Standing Indian Shelter to Betty Creek Gap

11 miles

Another clear, sunny and coolish day. Again, perfect hiking. (Feeling lucky with the weather.)

Most of our friends were doing 16 miles today to get into Franklin early tomorrow morning for their resupply.

Feeling melancholy that there are no friends at camp tonight. I had no idea how important that was to us.

Tenacious Bling was moody today. Yesterday it was Padawan.

After lunch I stopped to have some time to myself. I took a nap (in the open woods) and then hiked the last two hours by myself. I enjoyed that time and arrived at camp refreshed.

The camp at Betty Creek Gap is less than inspiring, a low-lying, rhododendron jungle feel. Padawan is teary tonight and I miss having alone time with Damien. We are looking forward to moving on.

I'm sleeping in the Tarp Tent tonight with Otter. Good thing no rain is forecast tonight, I'm nervous about this tent after it got soaked that night at the Cheese Factory Site after hiking out of Unicoi Gap. And this tent site is poor, low and packed.

We need to work on our getting out of camp routine. Aiming for 8am tomorrow morning, planning to hike till 4pm when we'll meet Nancy at Winding Stair Gap to pick us up for our resupply.

Rhododendron and a white blaze.

Packing up camp at Standing Indian Shelter.

Day 10 - Campsite (spring to the west) to Standing Indian Shelter

10 miles

The weather was crisp and coolish all day.

Today was a great day. I had lots of energy and made an effort to eat a lot, including 2 bowls of supper, maybe that helped. Perhaps my crankiness the past few days is due to not eating enough.

We hiked our highest peak yet, Couthouse Bald, and it didn't even feel difficult. My state of mind is everything.

It felt like we started the day slow but we were out of camp at 7:55. We arrived at Standing Indian Shelter around 3:30. 10 miles in 7.5 hours. That was a good pace.

This morning we crossed into North Carolina and hiked through some real pretty rhododendron tunnels. The hiking was beautiful actually.

After we set up camp I sat in the warmth of the Hilleberg test vestibule and gave myself a "spa". I did the total treatment: wash, pumice, nails, lotion, and calf massage. It was wonderful to feel so clean and pampered.

Standing Indian Shelter has been the most social camp and the most enjoyable for the kids, lots of people we know: Red Hawk, Bloodroot, Spot and the crew from Deep Gap Shelter - SOG, Viking, Trail Lobster and Baguette. Those guys are a hoot. The great company made for a fun campfire tonight. The kids will fondly remember this shelter.

Today was just a great day all around. We reached North Carolina, set a good pace, got to camp early, met up with fellow thru-hikers and enjoyed a campfire. Everyone in high spirits tonight.

Break time.