Appalachian Trail Day 9 - Plum orchard Shelter to Standing Indian Shelter

The entire camp is up at 6:30. A quick breakfast and on the trail by 7 Am. NC/GA state line at 9:30. We gained 1200 feet over the last 4 miles. The group we camped with last night is fleeter of foot  (and much younger) and continues up the trail. They are planning on 20 miles to get to Franklin to resupply.

A huge milestone today! We crossed into North Carolina!! The trail crosses through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. One state down, 13 more to go. 

One state down, 13 more to go!

Shortly after crossing into NC, hikers encounter "the tree," a sprawling old beauty right in the middle of the trail. She appears mystical in the morning haze. Is she welcoming or warning approaching hikers? 

 Steve, a weekend hiker we meet at Muskrat Creek Shelter, saves the day when Penny accidentally drains her dirty water straight into her clean water bags without the filter. 

Muskrat Creek Shelter

Our hike finishes with a never-ending hike down and up to Standing Indian Shelter. I am bonking in a big way. The weather is hot, and we are sweating copiously. I need more salt and sugar in my diet!

Reports of bear activity are the talk of the trail, with increasingly aggressive bear encounters worrying the backpackers. We see no bears, but lots of scat.

Penny and I have Ursacks -  a Kevlar bag, when tied appropriately to a tree is supposed to keep your food safe - although there are reports of these being taken.  

We are surprised to see the group of 5 from this morning.  They decided to stop here because the bears are worse in the next section.  Stretch helps me tie my Ursack. 

A fire and off to bed!

Today's hike:  3300' elevation gain, 12.1 miles

Total hike: 4321'  gain, 13.6 miles