Appalachian Trail Rest Stop

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hike 14 more miles of the AT. In this picture, I am standing on Cheoah Bald in the Nantahala National Forest. This would've been a good turnaround point, but last year I had hiked from the other direction and stopped 1-1/2 miles short of here. So, to complete this stretch of the AT, I hiked DOWN to Sasafras Gap and then back UP again! That made two treks up to this point, but it was really worth it! I am still focused with reaching my goal of 600 miles, so the additional 3 miles brings me closer. Despite it being a warm day, this was nothing compared to what I will see out in Texas for 9 days starting on the 2nd of June. My "hikes" out there will have zero elevation change, but the heat will be unbearable. Maybe if I start my walks at 4AM I can keep the temperature below 90! I know that my many hikes in WNC will be on my mind as I walk through the desert of Dallas! And I'll have a weekend of hiking over the Father's Day weekend  in the Great Smokey Mountains to look forward to. But, for now, I am thankful for every hike I get to walk.

Friday - Miami Beach, FL

Tomorrow - Bangor Maine

Today - On top of the world!

Mt. Cammerer, the Smokies!

Working for a Global Company, I get to travel to some fabulous places. This year alone, I have covered a good part of North America and have seen some great areas. But, as a resident of Western North Carolina, I have seen views that you can only see in one way - to hike to them! For me, there is so much more value in the view that I have hiked to compared to the ones that I have flown or driven to. Yesterday's hike covered over 15 miles & a very challenging climb. I started out by I-40 in the gorge @ 1400 feet and climbed for the next 7+ miles until reaching the tower @ over 5000 feet. But, the view was so worth it! While climbing this mountain, I came accross many of the AT hikers who all are planning on completing the full 2165 miles. Sadly, only about 25% will complete the trek. Will these be the ones who I met with a smile on their faces, the ones who felt that this was a 2000 mile party, or the ones with their heads down and with just one goal in mind? As an eternal optimist, I'm rooting for the ones who had a smile and a kind word as we passed. So my question to you, reader, is if the people you meet in life will also be rooting for you???

 AT Water Fountain #1

AT Water Fountain #2

19 Hikes - 205 Miles

This goal has really motivated me! Today, I took a day off work to enjoy the great outdoors and share the Appalachian Trail with those who also share my passion. The thru hikers who started in early April @ Springer Mountain are now hitting the NC/Tennessee border. I hiked from Sam's Gap to Big Bald and back. With an early start (trail-head @ 8AM) I didn't see anyone on my way north. When I got to Big Bald, I saw a couple who were packing up their gear and preparing to move on. I decided to try to enjoy the day and actually spent 1/2 hour at the mountaintop. I had my Blackberry & noticed that I had service. Well, why not take a picture & share it with the coworkers @ the office! I couldn't resist! On the way back down, I passed 15 hikers heading north. I met a young couple who had left Springer Mountain on April 9th and were hiking to Damascus. That sounds like a very "doable" goal - might be something to consider in the future. Not a full thru hike, but still............ I also met about 5 hikers traveling as a group - maybe Sierra Club. 2 from western NY & 3 from Columbia SC. I felt really lucky to be hiking within 50 miles of home! I also came across about 1/2 dozen hikers that looked like they were attempting an AT thru hike. At this point, they are still enthusiastic and consider the hike "fun." Within another 500 miles they will move from fun to working to "fulfill a major life goal!" One hiker in camo hiking at a real brisk pace looked like a marine - maybe back from overseas and ready to transition from a military life to civilian life. If you look at the first "AT Water Fountain" you may see that it is an Orange Crush soda bottle wedged into the rock to bring out the "fresh water." Question - do you filer or just roll the dice and take a drink??? Or as Clint Eastwood said, "do you feel lucky today?"