On a long distance bike tour you have one main partner – your bike. You will be fully dependent on your bike to carry you and your gear the distance. Picking the right bike for a cross country bike ride is critical, as the decision can significantly impact your enjoyment and likelihood of success on […]
Hot Springs, NC to Springer Mountain, GA – The Big Finish on the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Days 147-165
Location: Hot Springs NC to Springer Mountain GA My journal entry on November 7th was my last written on the Appalachia Trial. I did not record the daily events of my last 17 days on the trail. As disappointed as I am in myself for quitting my writing habit, the negligence is indicative of the […]
Bitter Cold and Starving Dogs in the Woods – Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Day 147
Location: Unknown Shelter, TN I left Uncle Johnny’s this morning around 9:45. I found some cereal and powdered milk in the hiker box and decided I would have it for breakfast. I considered waiting for the coffee shop to open at 10:00, but I decided that I better leave because a cup of coffee would […]
A Night at Uncle Johnny’s in Erwin TN – Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Day 146
Location: Uncle Johnny’s Hostel (Erwin, TN) Mom dropped me off this morning at the trailhead for the last time. I carried a full pack again, and started south, only a few hundred miles from Springer Mountain. I moved slowly but steadily down the trail. My slack-packs and zero day made me sluggish, but I made […]
Slackpacking from Carver’s Gap to Hwy 19E – Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Day 145
Location: Beech Mountain, NC I took yesterday off to spend with family. I said goodbye to Chris, Sarah, Liza, and Winn this morning. They had come to Beech for the weekend, and they would return to Durham while I slack-packed today. Mom drove me to Carver’s Gap where I started my slack-pack towards 19E. I […]
Relaxing at Beech Mountain Before the Last Sprint to Springer – Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Day 144
Location: Beech Mountain, NC I left the hostel this morning after paying the caretaker five dollars for letting me stay. It was every bit of 18̊F outside. I said goodbye to the brother and headed out on the trail. The morning was clear, but the forest and trail were frozen. I can feel the frozen […]
Thirty Miles Hiking to Kincora Hostel – Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Day 143
Location: Kincora Hostel (Dennis Cove Rd, TN) When I woke up this cold morning, all of the clothes I had hung in the shelter to dry last night had frozen. My shirts and pants were stiff and my socks had ice crystals on them. I was wearing dry clothes inside my sleeping bag, but I […]
Backpacking into Tennessee – Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Day 142
Location: Double Springs Shelter, Tennessee I left Damascus today in the hot morning. I was dragging all day. Having slack-packed for two days, I felt that I wasn’t going to reach the top of the first mountain with a full pack pulling down on my shoulders. Shortly after leaving town, I met Cold Feet slack-packing […]
Hiking into Damascus VA – Appalachian Trail Thru Hike Day 141
Location: Damascus, VA (Mount Rogers Hostel) I have new boots. Mom brought three pairs from REI in Raleigh, and one pair fits me. I decided I needed to switch from trail runners to boots because of the winter weeks ahead. My shoes no longer kept water off my socks and they poorly insulated my feet, […]
Finding Ponies in the Grayson Highlands – AT Thru-Hike Day 140
Location: Old Mill Inn, Damascus, Virginia After spending the night in Marion, VA, mom drove me back to the trail crossing where we had met. I left all of my overnight gear with her, and I only carried snacks and water for a twenty mile day hike over the Grayson Highlands. I enjoyed walking with […]
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