Getting My Trail Legs

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 all. I've hiked three days in the snow. There was a big storm one night so I stayed in a shelter. They were advising hikers to get off the trail but I wasn't worried. Turns out I slept through most of the storm but the two people in the shelter with me thought it was the storm of the century. There were a lot of broken trees across the trail after that, though.

Sherry has been great and is getting the hang of being a trail angel. We did a zero in Franklin, NC and hikers were coming up to her on the street and thanking her. I thought this was really neat. I'm hanging out with the cool chick (yes, she's with me).

Blue BonKnit being a trail angel.
  





 


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