Appalachian Trail Day 41 - Boots Off Hostel to Campsite - Bears and Butterflies (Mile 429 to Mile 442)

 I want to practice some self-love this morning and give a big shout out to my feet.  And my knees.  And my hips.  My hands for holding my hiking poles.  And my shoulders and back for holding my pack.  Looking at my Fitbit, I realize I have walked one-half million steps the last two weeks. 

We weigh our packs on the scale on the deck.  No way in Hell is GG's pack lighter than mine!  I am really in shock. Even with her fanny pack and all that stuff hanging off her pack, hers is lighter.  I am very happy for her for finally paring down some of her weight, but how did mine get heavier?  The cheese and extra water can't wait this much.  GG gloats as we hoist our packs.  

Appalachian Trail Day 40 - Laurel Falls Stealth Site to Boots Off Hostel and Amazing Outdoor Showers (Mile 422 to Mile 429)

 Good morning!  Last night was THE best night of sleep yet this trip!  The temperature is perfect for sleeping outside, and the stream provided the best white noise.  The second my head hit the pillow I was out, and I don't think I moved at all last night until 6 am when I woke to water the leaves.  I was surprised to find GG still asleep in her tent, so went back to bed and didn't wake again until 7:30.  

We have options for our hike today: Plan A, which is hike 16 miles and 4500 feet to the next shelter, or Plan B, which is hike 7 miles and 2,000 feet to Boots Off Hostel at Watauga Lake. We weren't planning on stopping again so soon after leaving the last hostel, but we are a day ahead of schedule, plus Kodiak is planning on staying there.  The comments on Far Out about Boots Off Hostel are overwhelmingly positive. The hostel is purported to have the hottest outdoor shower of the trail, and I am a sucker for a good outdoor shower. So, Plan B it is! 

Appalachian Trail Day 39 - Forest Road 293 to Laurel Falls Stealth Site (Mile 409 to Mile 422)

GG and I are both up at 6:30 am.  My stuff is mostly packed, so other than dressing, and brushing my teeth, I only need to stuff my down quilts and sleeping clothes in my pack.  I make some coffee in the kitchen and eat some breakfast.  

My backpack feels ridiculously heavy from the fresh resupply.  I now have five days of food in my pack.  To compensate, I will carry a minimal amount of water to save some weight. Fortunately, water is relatively abundant on the next section. 

Mountain Harbor Hostel

Appalachian Trail Day 38 - Forest Road 293 to Mountain Harbor Hostel in Reverse - Happy Memorial Day! 400 MILES!! And Back with Kodiak! (Mile 409 to Mile 395)

We are the first ones up in the hostel this morning.  It's surprising quiet, regardless of the number of people sleeping in this building.  I awake at 6:30 am when I think I hear a baby crying, even with my earplugs in.  Half dreaming, I think I am home and hear my infant grandson crying.  I wake up, remembering where I am. I investigate and find the old cat sitting on the landing between the floors, crying for attention.   I pett her for a bit and then curl up quietly on the sofa in my down top quilt, answering emails until other hikers wake.  A German Shepard comes in to say hello.

Appalachian Trail Day 37 - Campsite to Mountain Harbor Hostel - I LOST GG AGAIN! (Mile 388 to Mile 395)

 I wake at 7 am.  The rain has been pouring all night and doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. I originally set up my tarp and hammock broadside in the wind, to prevent wind and rain from coming in through the end of the tarp. However, the wind shifted dramatically and started barreling in from the foot end of my tarp. The tarp has full-sized doors at either end, but I need to rig them to close a little tighter in the future. I sacrificed my backpack to the rain, hanging it on the foot end of my hammock in order to block the rain and wind.  It is now drenched and will probably weigh an extra couple pounds, but I stayed warm and dry. 

With the amazing 5G service, I check the NOAA app to see the cell over us is colored red and yellow, but there will be a very brief break in the rain in a couple hours. I decide to hang out until then, then pack up.  I am still going to get drenched on the hike off the mountain, but at least my down can stay relatively dry.  

Appalachian Trail Day 36 - Ash Gap to unnamed campsite (Mile 377 to Mile 388)

 I wake at 6 am, as the sun is starting to rise.  I snuggle down in my hammock, so comfortable and warm, enjoying hearing the woods rousing with the daybreak. The light gently illuminates the ridge, increasing in intensity for the next 30 minutes.  I am finally motivated to get up by a desire to see the sunrise.  The clouds are thick overhead, but high enough I can get a nice picture. 

The temps are very cold, maybe upper 30's, but the wind is blowing briskly, quickly robbing my body of the warmth I enjoyed a moment ago.  I pile on all my layers over my sleep clothes to take some pictures, then start breaking camp.  My new tarp is so big, and I love the camo print, and my guy lines and suspension kept it from falling on top of me last night, but boy did it whip a lot in the wind, making me wake frequently; I need to perfect the suspension and lines. 

Sunrise on Ash Gap

Appalachian Trail Day 35 - Iron Mountain Gap to Ash Gap - (Mile 365 to Mile 377)

My slumber was less than peaceful.  I am camped about 25 feet from a cabin, and they were up so early this morning. Even with my earplugs, I could hear them banging and clanging starting at 4 am. I drifted off to sleep, only to be woken by the loudest truck in Tennessee belching and squealing up the road.  I drift off again, to be woken by a train.  By 6 am I say, "to hell with it," and give up sleeping.  I am ready for the peace of the woods. GG is also up and also reported a fitful sleep.  We have two hours until our pickup.  We pack and still have over an hour, so I go to the coffee cabin and make some extra strong coffee with lots of creamer and sugar.  I sit by the fire and chat with an older hiker named Santa for a spell. 

My Ridgerunner in the hammock shed