Date: 2013-04-21
From: Erwin, TN. 

To: carvers Gap
Miles today: 35.8

This morning I hiked from the Holiday inn 1.1 miles to the trail where I proceeded yo log an additional 17.5 miles from Erwin to Cherry Gap Shelter. As we left town we came to a set of train tracks with a train on them. I had to throw my pack under the train and climb over to get to the trail. About two or three minutes later the train started moving and I remembered the story my mother told me about my great grandfather, he worked on trains, fell between the cars and lost his legs. Instant bone chill as the cars made a shuttering sound as tension pulled each car taut. I climbed Unaka mountain at 5180 ft. and walked through some pristine lush spruce forest. I was waiting for some vampire or ware wolf stuff from twilight to happen. It was awesome to see the transitioning of different trees as we rise and fall through this wilderness. Still pushing antibiotics for my chest but it is improving daily. My feet have been a little numb around the heels but no blisters. Do you think maybe it's due to hiking almost nineteen miles today? Hmmmm! My weight is decreasing pretty good and I think I'm about 217lbs. My pants are getting really Baggie and I might need to get smaller waist size. We're expecting rain for the next two days and am staying in the shelter tonight. Tomorrow we'll hike a short day and get to Greasey Gap Hostel, stay tomorrow night and hike out Sunday and set tents up in a dry condition Sunday night. Sounds good in theory, if the rain stops by evening. I'm not afraid of a little rain but with my cold I don't need to be any worse than I am now. After tomorrow also, I'll have 100 miles left to Damascus! :-)Right now I'm laying down in my sleeping bag in an old barn. That's been converted into a bunk house at the Greasey Creek Gap Hostel. It feels good to be inside as its pouring out right now and I really don't need to be wet. Today as I was hiking I was thinking about how lonely I was when I looked up and saws gnarl on the side of this tree that was amazingly shaped just like a face with eyes, nose and mouth with a tongue sticking out. I took a picture of it, see if you think someone's watching me. It instantly snapped me out of my funk I was in and put a smile on my face. By far the hardest thing is being without my wife and kids and my life back home. When you are hiking eight to ten hours daily, you do a lot of thinking and rethinking. The miles go by faster and slower depending on what you're thinking and if you don't keep yourself on a positive thought process, you can become depressed in short time. One thing that I've had lots of time to think about is my relationship with my dad. I've decided to forgive him for things that have happened and be at peace with it finally. If it weren't for my dad, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Maybe it was his face looking down from heaven keeping an eye on me. While looking at my guide book, I realize I am exactly 100 miles from Damascus and should be there inside of 7 days. Most of the high mountains are behind me and with the exception of Roan mt. 6212 ft, won't be seeing this height again until the presidentials in NH. There's still a few 5000 foot bumps though and it's not a walk in the park but most of the next 1000 miles are smoother and a little faster paced.