Huffhike

Day 20 (Mile 366.1)
Seeing that I had the luxury of a “full” night of the luxurious WiFi, and an Air Conditioner. I took full advantage and I stayed up maybe a little too late and caught up on the Boys before bed (I did strech and use my cork ball, so not a total wash). By the time I finished it was 11pm. So I plugged in my earbuds and phone and fell asleep.

After I woke up one of my bunk mates offered me her bannana and apple. Obviously I accepted and devoured both in a matter of minutes. I then began to pack up my gear, after I had everything packed and ready to go, I ran to the common area to grab my lunch (a ceaser salad). I then walked to the front of Uncle Johnnys to wait for the shuttle. Due to Hurricane Helen a few years ago, the bridge across the river was washed away. So rather than taking a 5 mile road walk (that doesnt count as part of the AT) I opted for the shuttle.

After getting dropped off, I instantly felt the zero day. My mind and body were just pulling me back in, my knee would tighten, then my mind would go on a tangent trying to get me off trail. But I kept on walking until my mind and body shut down and I was moving.

The first half of the day was amazing, I had some trail magic where I had homemade banna bread and some Arnold Palmer, I then took advantage of the free trash and deleted my ceasear salad. It was wicked good. I would highly recommend it. I then started my teeth up Beauty Spot, which was an amazing view. After summiting, I continued to hike until I hit the AT detor. Due to the storm they closed a section of trail, I looked on Farout and it said that there was stealth campsites as well as water sources along the detour. No worries I thought so I started to hike and I slowly realized that report was over exaggerated as there was no stealth sights.

No worries, I figured at least it was on a road so the next couple of miles should be easy. I was extremely wrong, as the detour crossed a highway and darted through the woods going directly up and down hills. On top of that the hills had wooden stairs, which are incredibly difficult.

So my short day turned into a 20 mile day where I camped at the closest water source and had a campfire with a few other thru hikers.

Day 21 (Mile 382.2)
When I woke up I noticed my tent was drenched. Knowing it didnt rain at night, I knew it was a mixture of my condensation while sleeping as well as the condensation from the ground. I then brugently packed my soaked tent and headed off.

The start of the hike was uneventful, a few PUDS here and there, but it was still amazing. I ened up hiking with a hiker Big Bird and he gave me some photography advice (a hobby Im hoping to get into when I come back). After a bit of hiking, I reached Roan Mountain.

Roan was hit particularly bad by the hurricane. It was wild, there was these massive trees that were destroyed by wind. But the beauty in it was that although some trees were uprooted from the ground they were still blossoming (presumably because they had a root or two still attached). I think it says alot about our ability to survive. Like trees our whole purpose here is to live; like everyone we’ve survived the storms in our lives and were still blooming.

Anyways, after I took the hike into Carvers Gap where I was greeted by trail magic and a privy (a rarety in Tennessee). I ended up spending close to 3 hours at the trail magic, where I ate 3 hotdogs and 3 hamburgers. I also drank 2 beers and carried up one hard seltzer up Jane Bald. I then found the most beautiful stealth campsite, so I set up camp and have been streching and cork balling, while I wait for hopefully an amazing sunset and sunrise.