Tales From The Travels

I'm just under 173 miles in and feeling good. I started the Great Smokey Mountains NP in North Carolina today. I did 5 miles and have another 70 to go. Today was a short day because you have to camp at designated areas only and I didn't think I could make the next one at another five before dark. I'm not concerned about making it across though. The first week I was averaging 8 miles per day. Now, I'm routinely doing 12 per day and not feeling stressed. I didn't get to train as hard as I normally do before leaving home but it's worked out. Georgia was like a training hike and gave me a chance to get in better shape. I feel like the guy who's read the end of the book or seen the end of the movie and I'm trying hard not to be the spoiler. But, when I hear people talk about how difficult it was in Georgia I have to bite my tongue and not warn them about what's to come. The weather has been mostly good. I hiked in a light rain one morning but that's a...

I started my third attempt to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail on March 6. Sherry is following along with our RV and will provide support. Hopefully, that will be enough to get me to the end this time. I started at the southern terminus (Springer Mt) in Georgia this time (in the snow) and the trail is much easier than the ones up north. Good thing because I couldn't get in as much training as I normally like to. I'm both out of shape and more than 20 pounds overweight. That's like carrying an extra backpack.  I've been on the trail for a week and even took my first zero to be with Sherry on our anniversary. I'm staying in a shelter tonight for the first time this hike because the forecast is calling for high winds and thunderstorms tonight - part of the adventure. Otherwise, things are going well, and I'm picking up speed. We're hoping to finish around Labor Day, plus or minus. It's difficult for me to do these posts on my phone with my fat fingers but I...