Things don't always go as planned...

So it's supposed to rain every day this week. But Mary didn't you know it was going to rain? Yes guys I knew it was going to rain. I planned for it to rain. I was ready to beat the rain. But there is a difference between warm summer rain where it is a free bath and cold spring rain when you are flirting with hypothermia.

Each night is supposed to be in the 30's and 40's, and if you didn't know, you can catch hypothermia in 50 degree weather and die. So we are dealing with some serious business here.

Our best option, our only option really, was to come off the trail and let this weather pass. Although this wasn't what I wanted to happen and I was a bit upset, you can't control the weather. And it's better to take a week off than be dead.

It does make things run a bit smoother. We needed to drop Luke off and pick Will up anyway, so instead of forcing Mom to make two different two-day trips, when we leave town next week for the trail that will all be done.

So I'll see y'all in Franklin this week. Bonus I get to celebrate my 18th birthday with my family. Who wants to go get a tattoo and a lotto ticket?

April 26 - Cold Spring Shelter to NOC

When we awoke it was not as cold as the night before, thank goodness! At about 11 in the morning we made it to another observation tower where we were given an absolutely BEAUTIFUL 360 view. Literally all I could say was "Ooooo" and "Wow".

It went all down hill from there.... literally.  Haha We had a 5 or 6 mile descent with rock scrambling and walking on the knife edge of the mountain. I expected this stuff up north, not down here at the beginning! A pleasant surprise!

By the time we had reached the Nantahala Outdoor Center, Dad could barely walk. Something was wrong with his ankle. Julie (trail name Yoga Bear) suggested he speak with one of the workers in the boot section of the outfitter. Turns out the way he was tieing his boots was putting pressure on the tendons. Easy fix. Phew!

It was supposed to rain tonight and weather for the upcoming week looked pretty crappy ('less than favorable' if you are reading this Mom) so there were some decisions to be made. We got a motel room to sit in while we figured things out and while we waited for the ride we watched a kayaking competition. They were doing flips and tricks in the kayak. It was insane. 

April 25 - Franklin, NC to Cold Springs Shelter

So, the motel's shuttle for hikers dropped a bunch of us off at the trail head and everyone hit the road, but dad and I stopped to put on bug spray. Then this dude pulled off onto the side of the road and randomly starts chatting us up and then takes our picture and drives away. It was creepy. And shouldn't have happened, you know? It rained the night before and it seemed like he was looking for backpackers that were rained on to prey on. You've got to watch out for the crazies!

About midday we experienced our first trail magic! Trail magic is many different things such as a cooler of free water just when you run out, a hitch in the rain, folding tables full of food for thru hikers at the top of a tough climb. It is basically anything nice, usually just when you need it. It's often set up by former hikers, family and friends, or retired folks from the nearby towns. Our trail magic was a table of food and first aid. Pb&J, fruit, hardboiled eggs, candy, water, and the likes. And comfy chairs to sit in!

After that was a quick jaunt up to the lookout tower, where we could (supposedly) see four diffrent states. Beautiful.

We reached the shelter we were planning on hammocking near at 5 o'clock but decided to push on to the next one, making it a 16 mile day. When we finally reached the 6 man shelter, it was already full and there were tents everywhere. We rushed to find three good hammock trees before it was dark. We filtered water and quickly ate some food before jumping into our sleeping bags because we were freezing our butts off! So cold! But I was okay cause of my little personal heater (Luke). :)

April 24 - Franklin, NC - First Zero Day

I slept like a rock. In the good kind of way.

We watched tv. Ate breakfast. Dad shopped while I attempted to catch up on my blog and Facebook. We unpacked our backpacks and reorganized. Ate lunch on the patio of this awesome dog friendly restaurant called Motor Co. Grill. The food really was great. I had a BBQ burger and Mac n Cheese. The best part being that they, without being asked, brought out some water for Luke and also told us that they do sell food for the dog to eat. Which may sound stupid, but is actually great if you have been cooped up in hotel room because restaurants don't like dogs.

Dad also bought me a peanut butter milkshake! :D It was soo good.

Because we came in a night earlier than our friends, we ended up at a different hotel. There are a bunch of hikers that we have never seen before here. And they are partying and drinking in the room above us. Earlier I was asked if I wanted any wine.

Lets hope they opt out for the 11 o'clock shuttle back to the trail instead of the 9 so that we can get waaaaay ahead of them.

April 23 - Carter Gap Shelter to Franklin, NC

Before I start this post, might I say that showers are the best thing ever invented!

We got up and hiking before 8. Hiked literally on the side of a cliff! It was scary... and AWESOME!  After that we rock scrambled up this steep mountain and reached our 100 th mile on a tower! :D Absolutely beautiful view that was worth the sweaty climb.

It is supposed to rain on Wednesday, which works out great because we had already planned on going into town for a resupply anyway. 

We got to the shelter at four, ate our dinner, and decided instead of waking up early to hike the four miles to the shuttle, we were going to hike it right now and just set up camp near the pick up point. So what was a 12 mile day turned into a 16 mile day. It wasn't too bad though.

It was about seven o'clock when we got there and Dad was like 'We're here, might as well see if they will pick us up'.

They did. And now I'm clean.

April 22 - Muskrat Creek Shelter to Carter Gap Shelter

Luke attempted to nip at two people today. He randomly picks some people to love and some people to growl at. But in Luke's defence, when a dog gives you a warning growl, you don't continue to try to pet the dog. Idiot.

I do believe that he is only trying to protect me. He was such a sweet dog on every other hike we have taken him on, so this has come as such a surprise. He behaves well in town, but when we are backpacking I think he puts on his SuperDog suit and becomes my "hero".

We also have been having a hard time getting him to eat and he seems to be losing weight.

I cried all morning, but I decided it would be best for him and others if Luke stayed home after the Smokies.

Other than the morning upset, it was a pretty good day. Nice weather, pretty views. Better trees to hang our hammocks from tonight!  Haha

Apparently bears here in North Carolina are pretty religious... They have their own sanctuaries!

April 21 - Hiawassee to Muskrat Creek Shelter

Today we crossed the Georgia/North Carolina state line! Yay! Bonus - No rain! :D

Great day, only one "tough" climb. Supposed to get below freezing tonight. Good thing our boots aren't wet. Lol

There is another dog at this shelter. Luckily this time the owner is smart enough to keep her on a leash. Every once and a while they catch a glance of each other and start barking.

We are not actually stay in the shelter, we just like hammocking with these people. Everyone is so unique and hilarious!

There are some good trees for hammocks, but none that you can put two hammocks together. This means I am hanging from this really skinny tree that is bending and my butt is less than a foot from the ground... good thing it isnt supposed to rain tonight!

Hello North Carolina!

One state down, thirteen to go!

April 20 - Deep Gap to Hiawassee

Today was a pretty easy day... after we got up and moving. It got quite cold in the night, so much so that Luke actually got in my sleeping bag! When we woke up, we found out that it had gotten below freezing last night, as there was a bowl of frozen water on the bench outside. Some idiot left their sopping wet boots outside the shelter and they were frozen solid when she tried to put them on (that idiot being me). I guess when you are so cold you just want to get in your sleeping bag, you don't think things through too well.

We hiked the last three miles to the road and eventually were picked up by the Budget Inn bus with 8 other thru-hikers. We were able to dry out our things and do some well needed laundry.  

Mom and Kate showed up a few hours later and we were able to switch out some gear and catch up. Ate some good Mexican food. Resupplied our food. Get to sleep in a bed. Yay plumbing!

April 19 - Tray Mountain to Deep Gap

Woke up to rain. Hiked all day in the cold cold rain. My boots were like little swimming pools. (Here's Mary again complaining about the rain...) Luckily we only had to go 8 miles today because we are going into Hiawassee to resupply tomorrow. We are staying in a shelter with a great group of people, lots of laughs.

Shelter quotes: "Why doesn't anyone bring Febreze for trail magic?!?!" Haha

"Yeah, all the shelters have wifi, don't you know?" Hahahaha

April 18 - Low Gap to Tray Mountain

It rained this morning but luckily it had  mostly stoped before we left. We pushed hard to make 15 miles to a shelter which we thought was only going to hold the handful of people we stayed with the night before. Unfortunately it was full and most of the people we had never seen before, which is normal, but we were hoping to stay in the shelter because it is suppose to rain hard in the morning.

Luke wasn't too bad today, except when he saw a dog at the shelter.

April 17 - Neels Gap to Low Gap

This morning at Neels Gap we sent home 10 pounds of stuff. I guess we weren't packing as light as we thought we were!

It was hot when we started hiking, so we were glad when it started sprinkling,  a nice cool off. Until it started pouring. For three plus hours!

We stayed the might at Low Gap Shelter with a couple of people we had seen the past couple of days. All were pretty nice, but Luke growled and barked at them for a bit then fell asleep.

P.s. Happy Birthday Katie!

April 16 - Lance Creek to Neels Gap

So last night we had our hammock and tarp hung, happy that our stuff will be able to dry over night. Can you guess what we woke up to? Rain.

So it rained all morning while we where climbing Blood Mountain and when we finally reached the top, where there was supposed to be a beautiful 360 degree view, all we could see was white fog. It was like we had reached the edge of the earth and there was nothing left. There were enormous rocks everywhere and we hiked across several rock slabs, which were a little dangerous to cross because some of them were wet. But even with the fog, it was beautiful. 

When we reached Neels Gap, unlike everyone else who stayed in the hostel, we had to rent a cabin 5 miles away because we had a dog. Luckily the owner gave us a ride. The cabin was nice and we didn't have to share a bathroom or a shower, like we would have at the hostel.

April 15 - Cooper Gap to Lance Creek

Today we hiked 12 miles, and incase you didn't know, there is no flat on the Appalachian Trail, just up and down. Haha. Luke mostly stoped barking at people, except this creepy old shirtless guy sunbathing. Tomorrow we hike Blood Mountain and into Neals Gap, where we send some crap we don't need home.

April 14 - Springer Mountain to Cooper Gap

Today my mom dropped us off at the trail head on Springer and off we went! Everything was great except Luke decided that he was going to be a brat today and bark at everyone we saw. It rained the last three hours of our hike, but now we are in our hammocks relaxing. We went 11 miles today and hope to go 12 or 13 tomorrow. 

Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain

Today Dad, Luke, and I slacked packed  the approach trail from the base of Amicalola Falls to the summit of Springer Mountain!  We also did one mile on the AT.

Two years and we are finally here!

Woof!

We are at our hotel and done for the night!

Georgia!

We are now in Georgia! But we still have two hours more to drive...

The Adventure Begins...

Adios, Franklin! See y'all in five months!

Ahhhhh!!!!

We leave for the trail TOMORROW! I am excited, but nervous. Last night we loaded up our backpacks, so all we have to do tomorrow morning is throw them in the truck and hit the road.

Looking forward to a great adventure.