Gatlinburg, TN to Hot Springs, NC

We're done with the Smokies!!! YAY!! They were brutal! It was cold and wet every day but one since Fontana. We got sleeted on, saw snow on the ground, and had to deal with all the rules of the national park. We couldn't set up our hammocks, we had to stay in shelters which was awful being packed into a wooden box like sardines. We're here in Hot Springs now though and I definitely soaked for about 45 minutes as soon as we got here! It was pretty darn amazing :) There's also some music festival going on right now. Its expensive but you can also hear the tunes on the other side of the fence anyways! haha

Mom and Bill are here this weekend so it's nice to hang out with some familiar faces. We've been averaging about 15 miles a day lately so we're making up some time and it looks like we should still be in Damascus, VA for Trail Days (May 14-16). Eric got a new backpack as well... I'm currently going back and forth with Kelty about returning their awful backpacks. We'll see if they're willing to work with me though. (woof)

We're still very motivated and our spirits are still high. Of course, getting all the e-mails and messages certainly helps. We love all the support and think its really cool that people are keeping up with where we are. I'm trying to get some pictures posted but it might be the next stop before that happens.

Fontana Dam, NC to Gatlinburg, TN

Alright! We've made it into our 3rd state and we've also broken 200 miles on the trail!! We're about half way done with the smokies but had to get out and come to town to resupply. It also was an awful day weather wise so that really doesn't help us run back out to the trail! Its becoming more and more awkward to stay in a town over night. It always feels a lot longer than a night or day. We've really been motivated to stay on path. We're still behind schedule a little bit but we're catching up with ourselves. We should be in Hot Springs on the 30th instead of the 28th but we're figuring that out tonight :)

I also realized that sometimes I make this sound a little too glamerous, so just so ya know... I had some crazy blisters about the 2nd week, tho I have manage to go without them since. Eric's feet have been good this whole time. We stink something awful, haha! My new pack fits amazing so no more complaints in the back department. We're having to redo our food plans because neither of us are getting enough calories or fat or protein... so I tend to get cranky late in the day :(

Of course there's some bad, but it certainly hasn't outweighed our good! We continuously meet new people who are almost always worth meeting. The scenery has been incredible and one of these days I'll figure out how to load pictures to this thing! The Smokies (while incredibly hard) have by far been some of the most breath-taking views yet. Those long climbs are worth it!

Well, its time to do some laundry and lay in a bed!! I'll try to update again in Hot Springs if not before!

From Hiawassee, GA to Fontana Dam, NC

YAY!!! We've made it into North Carolina and we're a little over 150 miles into the trail! This will be a quick post because I'm borrowing someone's computer. Our initial hiking group has gotten a little broken up (due to paces). Jesse is about a day ahead of us and Yum Yum and Clint are about a day behind us. We've met a ton more people and we've had some fun nights for sure!! In Buringtown Gap, NC there was some amazing trail magic from some kids that work at the REI in Atlanta. They had food and a keg of beer and glow in the dark botchiball for night play :) We've pushed really hard the past 2 days and we're trying to make up for some time. We're still about 2 days behind our original schedule. We're about to go thru the smokies (starting tomorrow) and once we get to Gatlinburg we'll be able to judge how far ahead/behind we are.

Hope everyone is doing well! We'll certainly continue to update our blog as much as possible! Love you!
-Tiny Dancer (michelle) and Salty (eric)

From Springer Mountain, GA to Hiawassee, GA

Wow! What an adventure these first 70 miles have been! My Dad dropped us off at Amicola Falls and we've been on the trail for a week now and we've met some really cool people. We've been hiking with a small group for the past couple days and we all have a good pace so this might be the beginning of a really solid hiking group. We have Yum Yum (a girl with the same birthday as me!) and a guy named Herro and another guy named Tea Bag. Haha, he wanted his trail name to be Sun Tea but that didn't stick :) My trail name is still Tiny Dancer and Eric started out as Batman but is now known as Salty.

We ran into some nasty weather going up Blood Mountain (right before Neels Gap, GA) but it only lasted the day. We've been blessed with some nice blue skies the rest of the time. The temperature definitely dropped but its still not that cold.

We've had some incredible Trail Magic as well. There was a boyscout group at Tray Gap that were giving thru hikers all you can eat hotdogs hamburgers fruit chips cookies... I could go on! I sat and ate for about 2 hours, hehe! The best trail magic so far though has got to me my mom!!! My backpack does not fit me at all... it is WAY too big and it digs into my back and tailbone. Needless to say, I can't hike much further with it. So, mom is actually going to The Backpacker today at 10 and then driving up to Hiawassee to meet me and switch out my packs. She's an incredible woman and probably just saved me on this trek! :)

Its really hard to put into words how we feel. Its still a little surreal being out here, and even more so to think that this is only the beginning of a very long adventure. I think that with the crowd we have, we can really keep each other motivated in the hard parts and really live up the fun in the good parts!

As for now, that's all I have. Our next stop is the Nantahala Outdoor Center in NC but I doubt I'll be able to get online. We'll be in there another 5 to 7 days and then we stop in Fontana, NC and then Hot Springs, NC. We're about a solid day behind our itinerary and considering we won't be able to hike today until mom gets here we'll probably be a little more behind. However, with a new pack and being well fed and showered here in Hiawassee we might be able to make up some of that time. We'll keep you posted as we figure it out!

Love you all!!!

First Stop

Yay!! We made it to Neels Gap, GA! I'm gonna make this quick cuz I'm using someone's phone. We had our first day of nasty weather so we got a cabin with 2 other guys. We're having a great time and I can't wait till our next stop so I can update with more details!

Ok, quick update on the mailing info... we will not be picking up mail at Delaware Water Gap (at the Edge of the woods outfitters). Instead we will pick up at:
Michelle Shealy
c/o Ye Olde Backpacker
45 Penn St.
Port Clinton, PA 19549
Please hold for AT Hiker
ETA 07/08/10

That's all for now... Its our last day before the hike and I am definitely in freak out mode... There's still plenty to do!

Yay!! I think I finally figured out how to post both our itinerary and mailing information... Let's see if this works

AT Itinerary: http://www.mediafire.com/file/zmindeammyy/AT Itinerary.xlsx Itinerary.xlsx

AT Mailing Information: http://www.mediafire.com/file/ygmmtdyt1er/AT Mail Drops.docx Mail Drops.docx

If you decide to send a care package or letter, please be sure to read that first page about how to address it. Thanks!!