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

 

Appalachian Trail Day 34 - Iron Mountain Gap to Indian Grave Gap in reverse (Mile 365 to Mile 353)

I didn't sleep well last night.  Not because I was uncomfortable.  On the other hand, I was snug in my hammock, even with the chilly temperatures, and had probably one of the most comfortable nights ever on the trail.  However, I kept waking, unable to sleep because repeatedly I thought I heard something and thought it was the bear.  I swear I saw some movement, although in the light of the day I think I was just having a very realistic dream. I even got up a couple of times to shine my light into the shadows next to the road, careful not to shine my light onto tents so as not to bug anyone.   

We are up before dawn and packed up and ready on the porch by 7:30 am.  We talk to other hikers, and a man gives out metal stamped pack tags with the AT logo on them.  GG, Kodiak, and I all get one.  Steve is picking us up to drive us to Iron Mountain Gap.  GG and I will slackpack southbound about 12 miles back to Indian Grave Gap while Kodiak will remain and continue to rest her leg. Steve will pick us up at Indian Grave so we can return one more night here.  

Appalachian Trail Day 33 - Uncle Johnny's Hostel to Indian Grave Gap in Reverse - Slackpack back! (Mile 353 to Mile 344)

We are up with the sunrise this morning.  I slept without my under quilt, hoping I could ship it home, but I was too cold without it.  I need to pare down my pack weight.  Maybe I should just go back to ground in a bivy and tarp.  But I love the comfort of my hammock!  I should play around with other options on another camping trip. 

We wait to be picked up by G-Man at 8:30 am.  We hang out on the front porch and talk to some hikers. Everyone is shocked to hear about the bear in the middle of the hostel last night.  Some people refuse to believe it happened!  They think the hikers saw a raccoon or a dog, however, those who saw were absolutely certain it was a bear. We do some stretches while we were waiting, and Kodiak took a picture of us goofing off. Don't worry, there are shorts under our skirts!

Appalachian Trail Day 32 - Whistling Gap Campsite to Uncle Johnny's Hostel, Erwin, TN - Bear encounter in camp! (mile 331 to mile 344)

This morning is a repeat of every morning on the trail: chilly in the late 40's and overcast.  No rain is in the forecast, so maybe this is a representation of the microclimate of temperate ridge in Southern Appalachia. 

Tang is the first one out of camp. She packed up so fast and does an amazing amount of stretching before I even got out of my hammock. I see her depart, and decide to settle back into my pile of down fluffiness for a little while longer.

GG took down the bear bags while I pack.  Since I don't eat breakfast in camp, I am actually the second one on the trail at 7 am!  I keep hoping that if I get out in front, I will see a bear!  They tend to be nocturnal when it gets warmer, and bed down during the heat of the day.  So far no luck.  I need to clarify that while I want to see bears in their natural habitat, I would like to do so very safely! No angry mommas protecting their cubs, and at an appropriate distance, please. 

GG taking down her tent at Whistling Gap

Appalachian Trail Day 31 - Sams Gap to Whistling Gap - A Perfect Day to Hike (Mile 320 - Mile 331.1)

 We had a lovely night's sleep and wake refreshed. We have an hour to brush our teeth, pack our bags, eat breakfast, and be ready for Steve to pick us up. One of my favorite things about staying in a hostel is fresh hot coffee. I sip on the coffee in between stuffing my gear into my pack.  We have a few minutes to spare, so we weigh our packs on a pack scale on the porch of the bathhouse. GG's is 35 pounds! She doesn't look so happy.