Hot Springs, NC

Hey guys!

I was going to wait to post until tomorrow, but the library here is closed for Good Friday as well as Saturday!

I had the best day out here on the AT yesterday, and here's the story: Tuesday, the Booty Club (Phlegm, Almost There, Pixel, Austin, and Jana) hiked 3.5 miles into Standing Bear Farm, where we were planning to have lunch before moving on, but we all decided that we wanted to stay because it was such a cool place. The reason I really wanted to stay was because last night there was a huge barbecue with over 50 lbs. of pulled pork and baked beans! It was awesome! So we were able to slack-pack 19 miles south back to Standing Bear from Lemon Gap, and then start at Lemon again this morning and hike 14 miles north into Hot Springs. Yesterday was my favorite because I hiked Max Patch Bald in the driving rain, and then hit Snowbird Mtn after the weather had cleared up and got some awesome panoramic views. I'm not sure why, but Max Patch in the rain was just incredible. I took a video at the top, and it's a pretty awesome moment, but I can't upload it here. I also wanted to create my youtube channel today, because I've got several videos I want to post, but unfortunately youtube is blocked here at the library.


I'm glad to be in town today, because the 14 miles I hiked today were the most boring miles so far, especially in comparison to yesterday's awesome 19. Also I'm going to be staying at a sweet cabin with Chucktown and some others. It's going to be awesome to take a couple days off here!


And now the library is closing, so I need to make my way toward some dinner. Catch you all later, probably when I'm in Erwin!

Trail Name - Gravity

Hey guys,

I know you haven't been able to do anything except wonder how I got my trail name since I posted the other day. So, basically, I trudge up hills super slowly, and run downhill. When it started, I was with a group that would always pull away from me while we were heading uphill, and then I would catch or pass them on the flats/downhills. I guess the fact that I have 23-year-old good knees really helps. Also, while I was at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, I lightened my load, changed to a much lighter pack, and switched from fairly heavy boots to ultra light trail runners.

Right now I'm sitting at the outfitter's in Fontana Dam, NC, eating a microwave burrito and drinking a Cheerwine (soda). I'm staying at the Fontana Dam Lodge tonight with some friends, and then we'll move into Great Smoky Mountains National Park tomorrow. I'll probably be incommunicado until we reach the other side of the Smokies, and I'll post some pictures and videos from the other side. I've got a bunch that I haven't posted yet, but I also don't have my camera on me at the moment (it's back in the room). Look for me to post a youtube channel with my videos once I get a chance!

So I've got some sweet wildlife stories, or at least pictures and encounters. I'll post the pictures later, but here are the animals I've seen: squirrels, chipmunks, mice, lots of birds - mostly Eastern Towhee, cardinals, crows, a bunch of vultures, some pileated woodpeckers, and a lot of really small blue-gray birds that I can't identify; also I heard some owls yesterday while I was hiking during the day, which was strange, and then there were a whole bunch last night as we were sitting around the campfire, and it seemed like they were surrounding us, which was cool and eerie. The other day, Cropduster, Switchback, and I came across a large (~3' long) black snake on the trail, sunning himself. And then yesterday I came around a corner and heard scurrying up a tree, and looked about 50 feet in front of me to see what turned out to be a badger about six feet up a tree. I was able to slowly move closer and got about 10-15 feet away. I have some really nice pictures of that one, which I'll post when I get a chance. The bugs are definitely coming out too - lots of gnats that remind me of black flies, and yesterday crickets or grasshoppers were apparently coming to life on the trail, because almost all day as I walked they jumped away in front of me and it sounded almost like it was raining.

We're spending tonight here in Fontana to get clean and dry before we push into the Smokies. Hopefully the weather stays nice for us while we're out there, because it's supposed to be pretty cold and we're going up to some high elevation! Also I hope we're able to get into the park in spite of the government shutdown (anyone want to fill me in on what's happening there?)!

Goodbye Georgia, Hello North Carolina

Hey guys,

I've been in NC for a couple days. I was glad to finish GA, and then I hit the 100-mile mark today!! Woohoo!
My ankle is holding up pretty well. It's been sore at the end of the day, but it hasn't really bothered me to the point where I have to slow down my pace or anything like that. Also I had a 16-mile day on Monday, slackpacking from GA into NC, and then I got a ride back to the motel in GA for the night of crazy tornadoes/thunderstorms, etc. And I had a 15-mile day yesterday, with a full pack! I've got some more pictures from the past few days, which have been gorgeous. Check 'em out!

Here's Franklin from one of the vistas today:

Here's a pretty awesome view we had from the top of Albert Mountain (5250 ft):

Good morning, NC (Tuesday, 4/5/11) - I thought I left all the snow in New England!!

Here's me crossing the GA/NC border!

I wasn't really sure what a "swag" was, but I looked it up on google in Hiawassee, and I guess it just means a really low valley between two peaks. I was kind of hoping it was like the "place to be" on the AT:

Well, that's all I have time for now. I'll keep updating this as I go along. Thanks for following!