2018 AT – Epilogue

Sunday, 8 July Statistics Total Days – 39 Zero (Non Hiking Days) – 3 Hiking Days – 36 Total Miles – 470.3 (or 193 miles as the crow flies!) Average Miles per Day – 12.1 Average Miles per Hiking Day -13.1 Maximum Miles per Day – 18.4 Minimum Miles per Day – 3.1 Maximum Days…

2018 AT – Day Thirty Nine – Virginia!

Saturday, 7 July Destination: Damascus Today’s Miles: 9.4 Start Location: Abingdon Gap Shelter Trip Miles: 470.3 To add a little excitement to my last night on the trail, I was awoken at one in the morning. There was some noise and a headlamp shining into the shelter. I was expecting it to be a late hiker looking…

2018 AT – Day Thirty Eight – Pretty Good Luck

Friday, 6 July Destination: Abingdon Gap Shelter Today’s Miles: 15.9 Start Location: Iron Mountain Shelter Trip Miles: 461.1 One weather app had 100% chance of rain all day, the other 90%. I was resigned to spending my last full day hiking in the rain. The guy I passed yesterday, Jeb, came in after dinner and…

2018 AT – Day Thirty Seven – Good Luck Continues

Thursday, 5 July Destination: Iron Mountain Shelter Today’s Miles:16. 0 Start Location: Boots Off Hostel – Shook Branch Road Trip Miles: 445.2 Breakfast was supposed to be at seven with coffee ☕ available before that. The hostel staff was a little slow moving after their late night with fireworks and drinking. Coffee ☕, donuts, cereal…

2018 AT – Day Thirty Six – More Trail Magic

Wednesday, 4 July Destination: Boots Off Hostel – Shook Branch Road Today’s Miles: 14.8 Start Location: Moreland Gap Shelter Trip Miles: 429.2 I wanted to get an early start since today was going to be the warmest day so far. I was out about 6:45. Only Wet Dog was up. The morning was already warm….

AT – Day Thirty Five – Hot, Hot, Hot!

Tuesday, 3 July Destination: Moreland Gap Shelter Today’s Miles: 18.4 Start Location:Elk Park, NC – Mountain Harbour Hostel Trip Miles: 414.4 Today was my longest day so far, over eighteen miles. The spacing of shelters and hostels sort of determines my daily distance since I want to be able to sleep dry in the case…

2018 AT – Day Thirty Four – Roan Highlands

Monday, 2 July Destination: Elk Park, NC – Mountain Harbour Hostel Today’s Miles: 14.8 Start Location: Roan High Knob Shelter Trip Miles: 396.0 Keeping with tradition since I was tenting, about nine thirty, I heard thunder. We got a light rain, must have been on the edge of the storm. The shelter was four sided…

2018 AT – Day Thirty Three – Getting High!

Sunday, 1 July Destination: Roan High Knob Shelter Today’s Miles: 11.9 Start Location: Greasy Creek Gap Trip Miles: 381.2 Tonight I am camped at Roan High Knob Shelter, the highest shelter on the Appalachian Trail at 6,250 feet. What were you thinking? Yes, there is plenty of that also on the trail. I was up…

2018 AT – Day Thirty Two – Greasy Creek Friendly

Saturday, 30 June Destination: Greasy Creek Gap – Greasy Creek Friendly Today’s Miles: 7.2 Start Location: Cherry Gap Shelter Trip Miles: 369.3 Well the rain stopped overnight and things had a chance to dry out some but I had different problem to worry about this morning. Last evening during a short break in the rain,…

2018 AT – Day Thirty One – Trail Magic

Friday, 29 June Destination: Cherry Gap Shelter Today’s Miles: 17.1 Start Location: Uncle Johnny’s Hostel – Erwin, TN Trip Miles: 362.1 I got up, packed and had some yoghurt for breakfast before leaving a little before 7:30. I weighed my pack on the way out 26 3/4 pounds with two days food and water. Probably…