Today is the first day of a sequence of half marathons that we will walk until our next resupply. Since the weather has warmed up, I’m back to «happy camper» status and had a nice quiet morning. I walked mostly alone today and it was nice to be alone with my thoughts for so many hours. Periodically, random memories emerge from deep corners of my brain. I can’t begin to understand what causes some of them.
Hurricane damage?
We are still climbing the ridge today, but our views are now mostly blocked by trees on both sides of the trail. The trail passes through the place where a small plane crashed, where there is some debris. I’m excited to read about your story once I get to camp tonight.
I also notice that many large trees are uprooted and falling off the edge of the cliff. One of these trees actually had a white flare. Fortunately, I didn’t see any hikers following the trail up the mountainside (just kidding). I wonder if Hurricane Helene caused this damage, as we are approaching the trail towns that were hardest hit by the storm.
Long transportation of food
My feet still hurt quite a bit so I think it’s still an overloaded backpack. I’m trying to eat my heavier foods first so hopefully the next few days will be a little easier. I didn’t foresee the challenge of balancing the need and desire for more calories throughout the day with the enormous difficulty of carrying all this food on my back. I’m also struggling simply because I chose to carry the food for longer this time. I was hoping to resupply enough in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to make it to Hot Springs, North Carolina, which is a long five-day trip.
Last night in the Smokies
It’s our last night in the Smoky Mountains. The shelter’s mobile service allows us to share photos from recent days and check the weather forecast. Tomorrow there will be a storm and our next camp will have no shelter. We’re considering a last minute stay at a hostel, but I hope the rain won’t be so bad after all. Time will tell, it always does.
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