[mapsmarker marker=”34″] “Why am I out here?” Ultimately, every hiker will be asking themselves this question… most likely after a particularly bad or painful day. The funny thing is, at that moment in time they may not even know the answer to that question. We all start the trail with our reasons; our own justifications […]
[mapsmarker marker=”35″] Everyone has a story to tell. This is a fundamental truth. Every story is unique and filled with wonder … for those with open eyes. But oh so many pick and choose what parts of their own story they see, often to their own loss. The modern world is teaching us the fine […]
[mapsmarker marker=”37″] Day: 39 Trail Miles: 199.1 Rain. Snow. Pain. Slow. That kind of sums up the last few days. I finally entered the “dreaded” Smoky Mountains. Why dreaded. Well first there is the whole bureaucracy involved with getting through the park. Can’t even escape The Man in the woods. Add to that every previous […]
[mapsmarker marker=”38″] Day: 31 Trail miles: 150.7 The more I embrace this adventure, the more I truly understand why I am here. Some are devoted to ensuring they walk along every inch of the trail so they can say they truly walked the WHOLE trail. The purists want to do it in proper order too. […]
[mapsmarker marker=”39″] Before I actually set foot on the trail, I envisioned a certain level of daily progress, which would improve quickly as I continued along the trail. I was quickly disabused of such silly ideas. I forgot to take a few things into account: reality; the fact that these are mountains; the fact that […]
[mapsmarker marker=”42″] Posted day 20 from Franklin, NC Trail Miles: 106.1
[mapsmarker marker=”43″] Day: 16 (ish) Trail miles: 86.3 These tidbits apply to any situation where there is a heartbeat: Most importantly … hike your own hike!! One step at a time. Don’t look too far forward. It can provide hope, but might cause despair as well. Be aware of where you are. Take the time […]
[mapsmarker marker=”44″] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MRJgcEkGPs] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3eDibsI85k] [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQYxH_PMGds] People do the trail for various different reasons. Maybe it is to lose something. Maybe it is to find something. After a day of constant rain and cold in which Grey Wolf and I settled in, he found what he needed to find, and also lost some of what he […]
Day 2-5Weather: rainy; cold, rainy, and windy; rainy into sunny; hot sunnyDistance travelled: 21.1 miles After Jeff’s setback, I hooked up with two new hikers: Rich (Grey Wolf) who is my age, and Ken who is 71 (no trail name yet). We all realized that our eyes were bigger than our muscles, and we are […]
[mapsmarker marker=”48″] Day 1 Weather: mostly sunny, windy Distance covered: 8.2 miles Campsite: Hawk Mountain shelter I am not sure how best to describe today. Interesting comes to mind, but that is kind of insufficient. We started the day with another visit to the local fire. A pretty good breakfast was has by all, […]
