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Day 140, 9-Nov. Milepost: 1737.4, Daily: 15.0, Ascent: 3315′, Descent: 1930′, Highest: 3910′. Town: Rabbit Hole Hostel, Shady Valley, TENNESSEE. Excellent weather again for easy-going hike through camping closure area due to aggressive bear activity. Entered TENNESSEE! Stayed at a hostel off trail where the owner makes milkshakes the old fashioned way.
Day 141, 10-Nov. Milepost: 1755.4, Daily: 18.0, Ascent: 3335′, Descent: 3120′, Highest: 4240′. Camp: Vandeventer Shelter, Big Laural Branch Wilderness, 3563′. Warm and sunny! Trail reached the ridgetop and Big Laural Branch Wilderness. Many ups and downs, hiked until sunset. 2 mph average for the day.
Day 142, 11-Nov. Milepost: 1770.3, Daily: 14.9, Ascent: 2715′, Descent: 4350′, Highest: 3775′. Town: Hampton, TN (Braemar Castle Hostel). Easy descent to Watauga Lake, climb to Pond Mtn with weather changing to light rain. Walked to Hampton for resupply. Owner of hostel and grocery store was very kind.
Day 143, 12-Nov. Milepost: 1789.0, Daily: 18.7, Ascent: 4320′, Descent: 3175′, Highest: 4195′. Camp: Mountaineers Falls Shelter, Cherokee National Forest, 3170′. Slept on nice loft in shelter. Clear sky after 9am. Chilly at first, warmer in sun. Nice ridgetop hike on good trail. I felt strong all day.
Day 144, 13-Nov. Milepost: 1797.8, Daily: 8.8, Ascent: 1835′, Descent: 2150′ Highest: 3835′. Town: Roan Mtn. (Mountain Harbour Hostel). After light rain overnight it was very chilly and damp for the short, easy hike to Hwy 19 and walk to hostel.
Day 145, 14-Nov. Milepost: 1814.1, Daily: 16.3, Ascent: 5900′ Descent: 2440′, Highest: 6275′. Camp: Roan High Knob Shelter 6270′. Hiked 6 extra miles to reach the highest shelter on AT and ascended the most feet for the entire hike to date. Very Cold and windy outside, cold in the shelter which is fully enclosed. Ice formed in water containers.
Day 146, 15-Nov. Milepost: 1831.7, Daily: 17.6, Ascent: 3075′, Descent: 5645′, Highest: 6275′. Camp: Cherry Gap Shelter (tented) 3985′. Left Roan High Knob Shelter in cold wind and snow flurries at 530am. Sunny in late morning for the rest of the day for a pleasant hike in deep leaf cover, bare trees and great trail.
Day 147, 16-Nov. Milepost: 1848.7, Daily: 17.0, Ascent: 2505′, Descent: 4840′, Highest: 5195′. Town: Erwin, Tennessee. 430am start to ensure I arrive in Erwin before PO closes. Rocky trail during descent was tedius. Drank beer at Union Street Tap Room with AT hiker Bullseye and dome local residents and participated in trivia contest!
Day 148, 17-Nov. ZERO DAY in Erwin.
Day 149. 18-Nov. Milepost: 1865.7, Daily: 17.0, Ascent: 5830′, Descent: 2495′, Highest: 5225′. Camp: Bald Mountain Shelter 5075′. NEW SHOES! Lots of climbing on well graded trail. Kept up a good pace, light rain started mid-afternoon and temperature dropped. Getting cold at the shelter.
Day 150, 19-Nov. Milepost: 1884.6. Daily: 18.9, Ascent: 4245′, Descent: 5815′, Highest: 5550′. Camp: Flint Mountain Shelter, 3570′. Rain last night turned into a trace of icy snow which made the climb to windy Big Bald (5550′) an adventure touched by a waning lunar eclipse. Awesome! Sun and warmer later in day. Cold night again.
Day 151, 20-Nov. Milepost: 1898.6 Daily: 14.0, Ascent: 2630′, Descent: 2555′, Highest: 4825′. Camp: Little Laura Shelter (tented), 3660′. Slept late because I would hike only 14 miles. Made camp at 3:30pm and prepared TWO dinners to make up for calorie deficit and low energy. Good weather, a little warmer, nice hiking. Less than 300 miles to Springer Mtn!
Day 152, 21-Nov. Milepost: 1918.2, Daily: 19.6, Ascent: 3820′, Descent: 6035′, Highest: 3670′. Town: Hot Springs, North Carolina. Not very cold as I broke camp at 4:30am. The views of the French Broad River flowing past Hot Springs were the visual highlight. Excellent weather up to 60 degrees.
Day 153, 22-Nov. ZERO DAY in Hot Springs, NorthCarolina!
Day 154, 23-Nov. Milepost: 1936.1, Daily: 17.9, Ascent: 5930′, Descent: 3185′, Highest: 4745′. Camp: Roaring Fork Shelter, 3980′. Cold morning persisted until 10am. Clear sky, sunny. Most total daily ascent on hike to date; barely noticed because trail was so nice. Enjoyable especially after a pancake breakfast at the Hot Springs diner for great energy.
Day 155, 24-Nov. Milepost: 1951.6, Daily: 15.5, Ascent: 3050′, Descent: 5375′, Highest: 4615′. Camp: Standing Bear Hostel, 1837′. Excellent weather for long descent to Standing Bear. Sleeping in a “treehouse” at the hostel just 0.2 mile from the trail.
Day 156, 25-Nov. ZERO DAY and Happy Thanksgiving! Will celebrate with fellow hikers!
Day 157, 26-Nov. Milepost: 1962.0, Daily: 10.4, Ascent: 4450′, Descent: 1280′, Highest: 5120′. Camp: Cosby Knob Shelter, GSNP 4725′. First day in Great Smokies National Park. Above 4000′ ice clung to trees, trail had dusting of snow, temperature dropped below freezing in shaded areas. Nice trail, looked like winter sometimes. In camp I have hot water Nalgene bottle inside sleeping bag!
Day 158. 27-Nov. Milepost: 1974.9 Daily: 12.9 Ascent: 3125′, Descent: 2580′, Highest: 6310′. Camp: Peck’s Corner Shelter, GSNP, 5280′. Cold day, icy places on trail. I felt sluggish due to stomach distress. Hope for a rebound tomorrow.
Day 159, 28-Nov. Milepost: 1995.9, Daily: 21.0, Ascent: 5070′, Descent: 4935′, Highest: 6670′. Camp: Double Spring Gap Shelter, GSNP, 5485′. Crossed highway at Newfound Gap in GSNP and climbed to Clingmans Dome, 6615′, highest place on the AT. I extended mileage beyond original plan to perhaps hike through GSNP in 5 days instead of 6.
Day 160, 29-Nov. Milepost: 2012.3, Daily: 16.4, Ascent: 4060′, Descent: 5330′ Highest: 5565′. Camp: Russell Field Shelter, GSNP 4345′. Woke to ice on the tent, about 20 degrees and windy. It remained below freezing most of the day until I reached camp at lower elevation.
Day 161, 30-Nov. Milepost: 2027.4, Daily: 15.1, Ascent: 2425′, Descent: 5025′, Highest: 4750′. Camp: Fontana Dam Shelter, 1780′. Weather was much warmer as I joyfully descended to Fontana Lake and the shelter referred to as the Fontana Hilton! Completed the hike through the Smokies in five days!
Day 162, 1-Dec. Milepost: 2034.8, Daily: 7.4, Ascent: 2695′, Descent: 1490′, Highest: 3715′. Destination: Yellow Creek Gap (stayed Creekside Paradise B&B). On a warm day made the 7 mile hike to Yellow Creek Gap where I went to nearby B&B for resupply and rest.
Day 163, 2-Dec. Milepost: 2042.5, Daily: 7.7, Ascent: 1950′, Descent: 1730′, Highest: 3975′. Destination: Stecoah Gap (stayed at Creekside Paradise B&B). Hiked this short section and returned to B&B. 60 degrees and sunny! I feel great!
Day 164, 3-Dec. Milepost: 2056.4, Daily: 13.9, Ascent: 3155′, Descent: 4525′, Highest: 5060′. Destination: Nantahala Outdoor Center (Creekside Paradise B&B). Sunny, 70 degrees. Ascended to Cheoah Bald, 5052′ with nice view to south across Nantahala Gorge.
Day 165, 4-Dec. Milepost: 2067.9, Daily: 11.5, Ascent: 4590′, Descent: 1470′, Highest: 5155′. Camp: Cold Spring Shelter, Nantahala NF, 4920′. Up, up, up from Nantahala River Gorge and NOC. Very steep sometimes making me sweat, a stark contrast from the cold days in the Smokies!. Sunny, 62 degrees.
Day 166, 5-Dec. Milepost: 2087.5, Daily: 19.6, Ascent: 3670′, Descent: 4845′, Highest: 5340′. Camp: Rock Gap Shelter, Nantahala NF, 3796′. Magical view of mountains, clouds and sunlight from Siler Bald, 5,207′. Mild weather turned to clouds and a few showers. Felt slow and sluggish because of previous day arduous climb from NOC. 106 MILES REMAINING!
Day 167, 6-Dec. Milepost: 2107.2, Daily: 19.7, Ascent: 3960′, Descent: 3020′ Highest: 5385′. Camp: Standing Indian Shelter, 4751′. Rain showers after 10am, temp chilly 50 degrees. Nice hiking otherwise. Will sleep in shelter to stay drier.
Day 168, 7-Dec. Milepost: 2123.9, Daily: 16.7, Ascent: 3240′, Descent: 5290′, Highest: 4835′. Camp: Dick’s Creek Gap (Hostel Around the Bend), 2513′. Mild, dry weather after a dump, windy night. Reached GEORGIA!! Feeling optimistic about a great finish on December 15. 69 MILES REMAINING!
Day 169 8-Dec. ZERO DAY at Hostel Around the Bend, Hiawassee.
Day 170 9-Dec. Milepost: 2140.6, Daily: 16.7, Ascent: 5295′, Descent: 4970′, Highest: 4440′. Destination: Unicoi Gap (Hostel Around the Bend). Dry but sometimes chilly. Deceptively hard day with over 5000′ of ascent, sometimes steep. I was very tired after the 16.7 miles.
Day 171 10-Dec. ZERO DAY at Hostel Around the Bend, Hiawassee.
Day 172 11-Dec. ZERO DAY at Hostel Around the Bend, Hiawassee. Severe storms and tornadoes ripped three Kentucky and Tennessee west of here. Only thunderstorms and rain were present in this part of Georgia. The weather will be excellent on December 12 when I return to the trail.
Day 173, 12-Dec. Milepost: 2155.1, Daily: 14.5, Ascent: 3555′, Descent: 3125′, Highest: 4020′. Camp: Whitley Gap Shelter, 3355′. 38 MILES TO SPRINGER! Warm, sunny, 55 degrees. I was eager to leave the hostel!
Day 174, 13-Dec. Milepost: 2169.2, Daily: 14.1, Ascent: 3810′, Descent: 4310′, Highest: 4485′. Camp: Lance Creek Camp, Blood Mtn Wilderness, 2871′. 23.9 MILES TO SPRINGER! The BEST weather, 60s, sunny, no wind. Climbed up Blood Mtn, the last place above 4,000 feet. The rocky area near the summit, with a view toward Springer Mtn, was summer-like! Nice descent after a lot of tedius trail and climbing in morning and early afternoon.
Day 175, 14-Dec. Milepost: 2185.7, Daily: 16.5, Ascent: 3705′, Descent: 3460′, Highest: 3685′. Camp: Hawk Mtn Campsite 3245′. 7.3 MILES TO SPRINGER! Last night in camp after hiking in perfect sunny, warm weather. Had nice talks with day hikers and section hikers.
Day 176, 15-Dec. Milepost: 2193.1, Daily: 7.4, Ascent: 1655′, Descent: 1010′, Highest: 3790′. Lodging: The Len Foote Hike Inn. THE FINISH! I started at Mt. Katahdin on June 23. It took 176 days to hike the entire AT southbound. I earned my Triple Crown after hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 1996 and the Continental Divide Trail in 2016.