A Difficult Last Minute Decision

Mom was to leave Saturday morning between 9 and 10. I took Chef out to go potty and walk around like in normally would. I noticed he was scratching at his nose with his paw. Then the scratching where he rubs his nose and whole face to the ground. It did end in a whole back and body twist in the dewy grass. After he finished (and some belly scratches) I looked at his nose and notice it was a tiny bit raised and inflamed on the same nostril that bothering before on the trip. I had taken him to a vet back in Erwin, TN and she gave me a steroid to clear it up. Anyway, this and a few other things were the reasons I sent Chef home with mom. 

I was in tears when they left. Had I really lost my hiking buddy? God and time will tell. Mom is taking him our local vet soon and I will make a final decision then. Sarah is to come hiking with me this coming Saturday. And mom and dad may coming camper camping in Harper's Ferry. Now I am enjoying  my hammock and my reflecting on the first day in the Shanandoahs. 

 

Walked up on 3 cotton tails today. No Bears yet. 

Mom did let me know that Chef was happy to be a lazy dog again.

 

A Well Needed Break

Mom and Grandad picked me up in Daleville on Friday. I had a nice long weekend of showers and food and family. Olive Garden was our first stop. I wanted to eat as much salad and breadsticks as humanly possible. Saturday mom and I went to the nearby outfitter and movie theater. Finding Dori was great. Sunday we went to the AT to do alittle trail magic! Veggies, baked goods, soda and lawn chairs were all a hit. We had hikers come through all day and some stayed for a couple hours. Monday was back on the trail for me. I jumped ahead about 60 miles to keep pace with some trail family. Those miles will be made eventually. And now I'm enjoying the time I have by myself. 

I decided I was going to leave Chef with mom and grandparents for the week. I wanted to test out some new gear and its a nice break for both me and Chef. 

I hiked Monday into Friday and came back my grandparents for a nights rest, another shower, and to resupply. Tomorrow I will start my journey (with Chef) into Shanandoah National Park. Chef seems to be rejuvunated and I'm excited as well for the upcoming miles. Sarah, my sister, will be hiking with me for a short section towards the end of SNP. Then it's on to Harper's Ferry and soon into my home state! Tentative plan is to break the state line well into the second week of July. 

 

Me eating Cheetos after climbing a mountain.

 

I hiked for 10 minutes with this guy on my finger! I think he enjoyed the ride :) 

***for those planning/wanting to hike with me- feel free to text me, I want to try and see everyone, but I do need to keep moving. I will do my best to plan and coordinate. Thanks for all your support and comfort!!!

Hey Bear!

Up until now I hadn't seen a single trail bear (I don't count the 2 I saw on the shuttle drive to Trail Days). Currently I'm at 7 within a 48 hour period. The first 4 consisted of a mamma bear and 3 little cubs. Myself, Chef, and Salamander (behind us maybe 15 yards) were only about a mile or two from the shelter. I hear rustling leaves in front of me, look up and see three black balls quickly climb a tree right by the trail. I immediately grab Chefs harness and walk backwards as fast as I can. I stop about 30 yards from the tree and I could see them at the top. I turn around (my movements told Salamander something was wrong) and tell her about the bears and point to the top of the tree. We went over our options. Hike by the tree and likely get eaten by mamma bear- No. Possibly back track the trail... We had just come down a switch back, going back would put us closer to mamma bear- No. Go around and give the bears space and move on... I knew we were heading down the mountain but didn't know if the trail ran the side of the mountain or if it had another switchback, and the mountain side was covered in rhododendron and mountain laurel bushes- No. We ended up waiting there, sitting on a log for about 15-20 minutes. We talked and played music so mamma bear knew we weren't encroaching on her space. The little bears came down the tree eventually, but we couldn't tell how far they went away from the trail. I throw a rock. Turns out they only went a couple yards and they scurry up another tree. Now another hiker is coming down the trail. We ask her if she can see them and she replies no. She decides to chance it and walk the trail. In my head I say to myself "I'm not saving her if she gets eaten". Well, she makes it and informs us of where the bears are. Long story short, we make it passed them without getting eaten. 

The following day, again only about 2 miles from the shelter, I come across a bear a few yards from the trail. I grab Chefs harness again. This time I say in a calm voice "hey bear, hey bear". The bear looks up at me and does not move. She just stares. Hmm, that's not normal she should be running away. Then I see them. Two tiny cubs at the base of a tree. I back off and show Salamander who wasn't far behind. Luckily, this part of the trail we can see where the trail goes and the terrain is pretty clear. We hike off trail for a little ways giving the bears space and we talk loud as we go. Again, avoid being eaten. 

Sorry, no pictures of the bears. Currently I am over mile marker 700! Hiking into Daleville soon where I will meet up with Mom and Grandparents. I am taking a few well deserved /needed days of rest and eating. Then it's back to the trail. 

 

Dragons Tooth was the latest challenge. After about a 20 mile day over rocky terrain Chef's pads were starting to crack. We took a day off to let them heal. I'm hoping smaller mileage and the upcoming rest days will put him back to 100%. Only time will tell. 

Over 50, 500, and the Highlands

We've been out on the trail for over 50 days, hiked over 500 miles, and went over and through the Grayson Highlands. 

 

 

How did we celebrate??

 

With ponies!!!

 

That's Legs and the pony.

 

And Salamander with the pony.

 

We even got to see baby ponies.

 

500 miles!

 

We are now more than a quarter of the way through the whole trail! 

Sharing A Common Struggle

Life on the trail is simple. Simple in the sense that what we (thru hikers) do is wake up, walk for miles till we find a place to spend the night, sleep, and repeat.

 

Our simple life is filled with complications and struggles. Food, water, and shelter are top priorities along with staying dry and taking care of our bodies. Comfort comes last. We hurt everywhere, almost like our bodies have been beaten by the trail. We are constantly hungry and it takes a lot to fill our bellies. And we walk for miles, sometimes days in horrible weather and trail conditions. 

Despite it all, we are the most grateful, happy, and positive group of people you will meet. Sharing our common struggles and more importantly, our end goal binds us all together in a comradry. We are always encouraging the people around us. Everyone wants everyone to succeed. We give and share what we can and we aren't afraid to accept and receive. We laugh at each other as we limp or hobble... Or any other funny complications that arise.

 

M&m's pack rolled down a hill while we were eating lunch. Luckily it didn't go too far.

We laugh at each other because we know and feel their pain and suffering. We laugh because we know it will get better. We must push on and stay positive. 

 

 That's me way back there. 

** I did receive a trail name a while back. My name is Pish. For those of you who aren't birders, pishing is the noise that birders make to mimic a mobbing call to try to lure birds closer. The group caught me pishing the one morning while we were taking a zero day. They asked what I was doing and I laughed and told them I was pishing. They obviously had never heard of this before and the name stuck. 

Trail Update

It seemed like the rain would never stop and nothing would dry out. So I stayed at Mountain Harbour  B&B for a night. There I dried my damp clothes, showered, and stuffed my face with home cooked meals. 

 This was the breakfast feast. The dinner served the night before was an even greater spread!

After digesting breakfast (Chef even got a small plate full) for an hour or two we set off on the trail again. The stretch from there through Damascus, VA has been my favorite so far.  Here's some pictures of what we were up to...

Laurel Fork Falls (did not swim because of dangerous whirlpool)

 

 The trail went around the rocky ridge and followed the stream for a bit. Can you see the tiny white trail blaze in the picture?

 Camped next to the stream.

 

I got to play with a black rat snake. 

 

And I even moved a rattlesnake off the trail so no one (snake included) would get hurt. 

 

The next day was also filled with fun....

 The trail went directly through a cow pasture!

 

Chef was very well behaved. The cows were a bit curious about him. 

We are currently in Damascus,VA and approaching the 500 mile mark. Here we will resupply, get new shoes and a shirt, and take care of some other things. 

After the Smokies

After the GSMNP Chef and I were reunited at Standing Bear Hostel. 
 

Had a nice lunch and view at Max Patch. 

 

Hiked to Hot Springs, NC. 

 

Relaxed in Hot Springs. ( Rock Steady and Chef napping on the porch )

 

Played in the French Broad River behind the cabin. 

 

Wildfires (from previous weeks ago) had burnt a lot of the mountainside in Hot Springs. It was interesting to see how and what the fire burnt. Legs is the hiker in the photo. We hiked a day or two in half burnt forests. 

 

Meadows are one of my favorites to hike through. 

 

After a 9, 17.9, 15, and 2 mile day, a shuttle picked up a group of 9 thru hikers (and a dog) and drove us Damascus, VA. Trail Days, simply put, is like the Appalachian Trail festival. Tent city is where hundreds of hikers and hiker supporters pitch their tents in the outfield of a baseball field and surrounding forests. A short walk away are vendors and food trucks and other tents selling or advertising. Churches and ministries support the hikers by providing shower and laundry services as well as a constant supply of food and other goodies. There was a vet there who gave chef a quick look over. He's doing well but I did notice a sore on his nose after we visited the vet. I got my feet washed and massaged. Needless to say they pamper the hikers. I speak for all of us when I say it is all greatly appreciated!

We picked up where we left off after the 3-day hiker party. Two states have been completed and four have been touched. Won't be too long until we get to Virginia again.