Date: 2009-11-07
From: My friends house

To: View Entry
Miles today: 1900.0

Another month, and another 600ish miles comes my last entry before I get home. Much has happened. I have hiked over 1900 miles, and only 250 miles remain. It is crazy. I would guess that only 14 days remain. It seems incredibly strange to be at this point in the trip. There is still a good chunk left however, and I will be traversing the highest mountain range on the AT, the Smoky Mountain's. Fortunatly after I left Glasgow, my shin splints got much better. It was nice to no longer have a sharp pain in my leg when I was walking. I was able to meet up again with a hiking friend named Smoose, whoose house I am at right now. Everything has been going well. The weather has thankfully been very nice. It is pretty cold when I first wake up, but after I have been moving for a little while it is not so bad. I did have some pretty terrible weather in the middle of October however. October 14. It is a day that will forever stick out in my head. It was possibly the coldest I have ever been in my entire life. The forecast, 35 degrees, and pouring rain. The fact that I was going over an exposed ridgline at 4000 feet with lots of wind didn't help either. My legs were numb, my hands were numb, my face was numb, and just about everything else was numb. The day started off just very cold with no rain. But at about lunchtime, it started to rain, and kept raining for the next three days. I didn't take a single break in the last 12 miles. One of the guys I was hiking with was, now that I look back at it, was probably hypothermic. That night at the shelter was pretty scary. It took me a good 40 minutes to warm up. The next couple of days were wet, but not as cold. Other than that the hiking has been awesome. I met around 6 new southbounders, which was pretty strange. The group was a big pack that started at the beggining of june. The southern balds are incredibly beautiful. They remind me of some of the above treeline stuff in Maine, and New Hampshire, but not as harsh on the eyes. The fall foliage was spectacular. There is nothing like watching the leaves gradually change before your eyes each day.While I am still enjoying myself, I am ready to get back home and see family and freinds. My body is starting to feel like it is degrading somewhat from the last 1900 miles. I only think I can handle about 300 more. I am no longer hiking as fast or doing as many miles. I feel almost freakish. When I tell people I started in Maine, they give me a look that implies I am the craziest person ever. It is so hard trying to tell people it is just walking. All you have to do is walk, and put up with some uncomfort. I have been thinking a lot about springer mountain. It just feels so strange that within 14 days or so, I will be standing on top of it, being able to call myself a through hiker. I don't know quite what to expect, and am a little nervous. Being on Springer is a moment I have though about every day since I stood atop Katadhin. Who knows what will happen when I am actually there. The transition is going to be interesting. I can't wait to get home and see everyone, and I am getting prepped to put down some serious food at thanksgiving. Just a warning, too be safe and secure about being full on thanksgiving, I would probably have at least two turkey's prepared. Of course I'm not serious, just don't give me any bad looks when I go back or 2nds, then 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, and so on til all the food is gone. I'm also verry exicted to see both girls and boys teams qualifed for the state cross country meet. I wish I could have been there to support them. I hope everyone is doing great, and I will see you before too long.