Mt. Rogers and Grayson Highlands

Trail Days weekend also saw the arrival of some friends from home to hike with me for a few days. The Wurmdell's (Joe and Lisa) arrived on Saturday, ready to conquer about 50 miles of the trail. They brought with them some of the best trail food I've seen, and fresh coffee every morning. 50 miles over 5-6 days would normally not work for me, but following the doctor's orders I was glad to slow down and enjoy my time through this section

It was a perfect spot to take some time through, as the views and landscape was unlike anything on the trail so far. While we battled some bad weather, Joe and Lisa toughed it out with the best of us. I hope the photos speak for themselves.
































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Damascus and Trail Days

I walked (hobbled) into Virginia just as one of the friendliest trail towns (Damascus) was gearing up for their annual Trail Days festival. It's a weekend to celebrate the AT and it's hikers with gear vendors, lectures, and the occasional free meal. The weekends highlight is a parade in which thru-hikers are attacked by the parade audience with water balloons and squirt guns. I'll let you figure out the symbolism in that.



I also got to have my knees checked about by a doctor, and while there was quite a bit of fluid on one, he was hopeful some slow days and a lighter pack would help ease the pain. The time was right for friends from home to pay me a visit!

Hot Springs, NC and Erwin, Tennessee

I hope everyone doesn't mind my short stream of conscious posts followed by photos.  It's easiest for me on my phone and the limited time I have between coverage areas  (plus we all know you're here for the photos).

Immediately after the Smokies I spent a night at Standing Bear Farm, a hiker paradise tucked along a gravel road the AT crosses.  I stumbled into it after a 19 mile day, and was immediately relaxed with an outdoor shower and a 'personal' pizza.  The next day I hiked to Max Patch Bald, one of the best balds I've seen yet (that may have changed after going through the Roan Highlands.)
 
My next town stop was Hot Springs, the first town the trail actually directly crosses.  I stayed at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn, which is an awesome guesthouse run by Elmer (obviously) and a few former thru-hikers.  Hot Springs was a small and friendly town, and I actually took my first zero day (no hiking) there.

Leaving Hot Springs, I hiked my first 21 mile day, and it turned out to be over the toughest terrain I've had in a single day.  Rock scrambles and steep inclines were the name of the game, and that combined with 20+ miles left my knees in some pain.  A few days later I had a short hiking day and landed in Erwin Tennessee to rest.  Erwin was unimpressive, but will leave a lasting impression on me for two things.  First, the 'Erwin bug' rushed through the hiking community, knocking more than half of the hikers on their asses for a day or more.  Thankfully I didn't get the bug, but those that did could look forward to 24 hours of their bodies rejecting anything that went into it.  The second was a hostage situation turned to hiker heroics that happened a few days before I got there.  You can read all about it in the link above, but I had the chance to read first hand from the hikers involved in one of the shelter registries.  Quite the crazy story. 


Photos below, as usual.

Elmer's Sunnybank Inn

The Smokies

Sorry for the delay.  Blogger doesn't seem to be the best platform for mobile blogging.  The lack of a solid signal and uncooperative platform has made things tough on the blogging front.  I'm in Damascus, Virginia for Trail Days, but am backtracking to some of the sights I've seen in the past few weeks.

The Smokies came up on me fast.  While the miles are slowing adding up, the sights are coming up fast, I couldn't believe I had made it to the Smokies so fast.  I missed meeting up with Jordan and Kate for their big shindig by a few days, but got some excellent rides into Gatlinburg and a Shoney's buffet.  I also hiked my earliest day, walking before 6:00 am to hike up to Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT at 6,644 ft.  Photos from my time in the Smokies below.

 Fontana Dam walkway

 

River trying to coax a ride on the horse.

 Clingman's Dome viewing tower.  Hit this at 7:30 am to avoid crowds.

 Ice Water Shelter had one of the best views in the Smokies

A packed Tri-Corner Knob shelter.  This is the shelter that is farthest from a road on the AT (18 miles either way).

The NOC

Spent today at the NOC, or Nantahala Outdoor Center, resting a sore knee. I seem to have found my legs in Hiawassee, and have been cranking out bigger and bigger miles everyday.

I also hit a lot of milestones in recent days, including hitting North Carolina, 100 miles, and my first trail magic. On a rainy morning I was walking toward a rock scramble climb of Mt. Albert, when I crossed the Ocokee Hiking Club of South Carolina and their spread of fresh fruit, candy, pancakes, and chili.











It was the perfect fuel to keep hiking in the rain and push up the mountain. To add to the magic, a thru-hiker from last year showed up at the shelter later that night with brownies! The next day I ran into the Ocokee hikers again, and got some more treats. The charity they provide to hikers can not be overstated, it's a powerful motivator and greatly appreciated.















































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Location:Noc Way,Bryson City,United States