Ending Point: Erwin, TN (344.6)

Total miles: 11.2 miles

Steps: 26,518

Injuries: Back?

Achievements:

Today was my second day of slackpacking.  Eleven miles into town, almost all downhill.  It was the first time I marched with others and told stories making the day go fast.

The views were great.

Uncle Jonny’s Hostel is right off the trail.  There was a good gathering of people.  While discussing shoes, I discovered I blew out my shoe.

That changes the plan for tomorrow.  Instead of resupplying today, I’ll need to go into the town proper and buy a new set of Lone Peaks as well.  That means I won’t get out of town until the afternoon.  Oh well.

Ending Point: Sam’s Gap (320.0)

Total miles: 13.4 miles Southbound

Steps: 33,004

Injuries: Back?

Achievements: High Rocks (Different Mountain), Little Bald, Big Bald

We took advantage of an opportunity to slack pack for $20.  Instead of carrying my full kit, I borrowed a small backpack.  As I’m struggling with a kink in my back, this would be a good way to test it out.  We would still hike a full thirteen miles.  Unfortunately, we would go Southbound.  That meant that instead of 3000′ up and 4000′ down, we would do 4000′ up and 3000′ down.

I took a water bottle, lunch and snacks, my water filter and dirty water bag, and my Duce of Spades and some baby wipes.  (The Duce of Spades is a lightweight shovel for digging cat holes).  I think my pack weight was four pounds.

The 4000′ climbs was much better.  I did notice that I’m still struggling once the grade becomes too steep.  For most of the hike, it was graded nicely and I could keep a good pace.

It stormed hard again last night and the trail was awful.  The mud was thick and it was hard to move.  My treking poles would get stuck.  I was happy that I was slackpacking, but I was tired of all this.  Why can’t the trail give me a week of sunny skies and smooth trails?

Backpacking is Type-2 fun.  It isn’t necessarily fun while you do it, but it is awesome when you look back on it.  Type-4 fun isn’t fun while you do it or when you look back on it.  Sometimes I wonder if this trip is turning into Type-4 fun.

I found myself turning the lyrics of Dropkick Murphy’s song Dirty Glass into a durge.

“Young Buck, Young Buck, my darling dear, I’ll torment you night and day.  Your pain is my pleasure, your sorrow’s my joy.  You’ll never have blue skies and a wonderful trail.”

As I came down Big Bald, I was finally in my medium, a smooth downhill grade.  The trail was pretty again.  As I picked up speed, I ran into a sign.  “Trail Magic: Burgers and Beer”  I should have taken a picture of it.

The problem was that I came with four other hikers and I was dead last.  I didn’t want to hold them up.  I walked up the path.  Captain Blogger, Hawaii, and Kia were sitting there.  Awesome!

It was the local subdivision.  Yes, there was a subdivision there.  They cook for hikers every Saturday and Sunday.  I was quickly given a chair, a beer, a hotdog and a burger.  Wonderful people.  Completely unexpected!  It changed my mood completely.

The nice people live there in their subdivision in the hills.

The last five miles was all downhill.  Trail magic can completely change a thru-hiker’s attitude.

I ran into Dunkeroo and he will rejoin us in Irwin.  We might lose Captain Blogger for a while.  We’ll see how that works out.

After a good evening telling stories, we’ll get up and slackpack the last 11 miles into Irwin.  I’ll resupply for the last hard section in the south portion of the AT.  After that, it smooths out!

My back gave me no trouble, also good news 

Starting Point: Little Laurel Shelter (294.8)

Ending Point: Flint Mountain Shelter (308.8)

Total miles: 14.0 miles

Steps: 35,608

Injuries: None

Achievements: *** 300 Miles ***, I Scaled Big Butt — I Cannot Lie, White Rock Cliff, Blackstaff Cliff, Big Firescald Knob, Big Butt Mountain

I was curious, but my wife has given me strict instructions not to put myself in a compromising position.  As she says, “do not allow you ego to exceed your ability”.  I gave it a wide birth and kept Big Butt in focus.

It was rocky and a hard climb, but it really didn’t have much of chance.  I scaled it.  At the top I celebrated.  As I did, Captain Blogger hiked past me.  She looked at me with a face that said “what are you?  A six year old?”

So, I sent a text to my family.  Especially my son.  He’ll appreciate my accomplishment.

For the final part of the hike, as we walked on the edge, the weather was completely different to the east and to the west.  These two pictures were taken from the exact same spot and time.  I just turned 180 degrees.

As you can see, one side was sunny and warm.  The other was cold and damp.  Eventually the trail turned, but to the cold and damp.

We finished 14 strong miles.  I reached the shelter just as thunder started to roar. Now there are a bunch of us enjoying the thunderstorm dry in a shelter.

Starting Point: Hot Springs (274.9)

Ending Point: Spring Mountain Shelter (286.2)

Total miles: 11.0

Steps: 33,263

Injuries: None

Achievements: Lover’s Leap Rock