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!!!
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hey Michelle and Eric, great to hear that yall are gettin after it. i hope that jade 50 gregory pack rides well for ya. it was cool to meet Mom. if you get a chance go up to Shuckstack firetower by Fontanna. its gorgeous
ReplyDeleteEric and Michelle, good to read you are have a great time, loved reading about the characters you have been meeting, makes the journey fun. I've had fun following you on google, did not realize the AT was such a big deal back east. Wow! you both take care and keep on trekking. Love you both, Karen
ReplyDeleteHey, having trouble sending you blessings so hope this one makes it and if you got the other comments, you know we are cheering for you guys. Absorb all the beauty you can, stay safe, happy and healthy!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad things are going well, and now that you have your new backpack and Eric's is on the way I hope the rest of the trails go even better!! I can't imagine YOU meeting all those people on the trail LOL. Just like you mom you never meet a stranger. Love you both! Take care!!!!
ReplyDeleteGlenda