Samwise Hikes the Appalachian Trail! - Trail Journal -
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April 16, NOC - mile 134.1

    Last night was the first really cold night since Springer, but fortunately I had the good sense to wear my rain gear to bed this time & I stayed pretty warm. I think the mice were staying warm in my pack, too. I heard them chewing in there all night long & when I opened it this morning, I discovered a nest in my rope. Thank goodness they didn't have time to put babies into it!

    This mornings hike was a 6 mile downhill trek into the Natahala Outdoor Center (NOC) essentially a whitewater rafting center on the trail where we can get a bunk for $14, do some laundry, get a shower & eat a meal that we didn't have to cook. Pretty much all we could want in life right now. You know it's time for some clean-up when you smell yourself with every breath! The last couple were getting pretty foul.

    I'm awfully glad that I have a chance to rest after those 6 miles, too. My knees still get a little swollen each night, but the downhills are really the most painful. We took home some ice from the restaurant this afternoon, so I've got some on my knee right now. It's nice to be here early with most of the day to relax. When we first arrived, I picked up some letters from home, plus the food I sent myself from Hiawassee last week. Since I'm still moving a little faster than I expected, I've had surplus food in my mail drops & although I hadn't planned to get a food drop here, I decided to send all the extra stuff on & save myself the effort of going to the store here. As it was, I still had some extra lunch bars & breakfasts, so I gave them to two friends who I've pretty much been traveling with this week. Polar Bear is from Michigan & amazingly enough, had never hiked or backpacked before this, and Sara is from Kentucky & she is a marathon & cross country runner. It's hard to belive we're keeping the same pace (for now any way) when we're coming from such far ends of the spectrum physically. But it's great to have the company every night, even if we'll eventually start hiking different schedules, I suppose.

    Even though I've been on the AT only 16 days now, it's feeling like a regular way of life. I feel much more mellow & peaceful than I do back in society, & it's such a great feeling. To have everything I need for life in one big sack gives such a sense of freedom & independence. Granted, I have to resupply once a week, but beyond that, I'm self-sufficient. I'm just loving trail life!

   

   

April 17, Locust Cove Gap - mile 144.6

What a strange & wonderful day it's been. I left NOC this morning around 9:30, with Sara close behind me, though as much as I slowed down, she never caught up. For a time, I was wondering if she might have turned around, since the snow kept coming down & down & the visibility got worse & worse. After about 4 1/2 hours, I came to the first shelter & stopped for some snacks & hot chocolate & try to decide whether to stay or go on. Within a few minutes "Mr Moo" came down the path & soon after that was Sara & collectively we decided to go on another 3 1/2 miles to this camping spot, which is a lot lower in elevation (and therefore warmer, more protected from the wind & a heck of a lot less garbage! That shelter was a disaster! Right now I'm so glad to be sitting by a warm fire with good company & lots of hot food inside me. I promised to read a chapter of "The Hobbit" tonight, so I need to get my book & headlamp.

   

   

April 18, Cable Gap Shelter - mile 156.2

Well, my 20* bag got me through the chilly night even though there was half an inch of snow on the ground. When we got up this morning, I was pretty much wearing everything I had except my rain jacket. Four layers on top, two on the bottom and double socks, plus I filled my water bottle with hot water & put it in the bottom of my bag to keep my feet warm. For added insurance, I took some cookies into my tent (forget the bears!) to eat in case I got too cold during the night. It turned out to be a good idea, too, since I started shivering uncontrollably at about 1:30. So I stuck my fingers out through the two inch opening in the sleeping bag where I was breathing & managed to locate some cookies & direct them back to my mouth. It worked like a charm. My metabolism kicked in & warmed me up pretty well, enough to last until morning, any way.'

    Zipping open the tent fly & seeing the snow everywhere was pretty cool! Getting my feet into almost frozen boots was quite challenging, especially since it seems that my right foot is bruised. It's been sore all day but it's not incapacitating, at least. Tomorrow will be an easy day - only 6 miles - so I can get more rest time.

    Hiking today was much warmer than yesterday, but I'm curious to see what evening will be like. I have a feeling that it will be just as cold tonight. So I guess we should start finding firewood, for another campfire & more of "The Hobbit", perhaps.