Date: 2018-04-18
From: N.O.C.

To: Stecoah Gap
Miles today: 13.9

Papa Big Swig made cheesy scrambled eggs with turkey sausage for breakfast. We headed to the N.O.C. with full bellies.  When we pulled up to the N.O.C. there was a helicopter flying low. It had a long pole or rope hanging out the bottom. On the pole/rope was several rotating saw blades. We watched in awe as this chopper went up and down trimming trees away from the mountain power lines. It gave me a little anxiety to start hiking up the mountain underneath all of that business! I was quite relieved when he flew away before I reached the area where he was cutting. It was even pleasant smelling the fresh cut trees and pines as I began my initial ascent.  I say initial ascent, because the first 8 miles today were up! Up, switchback, up, switchback, and so on for 8 miles and 5,052ft elevation! It was physically exhausting and emotionally challenging to say the least. By far my hardest hiking day to date! I can¢t imagine what I would have done with a full pack on. Orlando and I usually hike separately but the ups today just kept us playing leap frog all day. There were about 5/6 other hikers we played leap frog with too. But when we finally summited Cheoah mountain it was invigorating! Today¢s photo is of the view up there.  I¢ve recently uploaded several new photos. Trail Journals only allows me to feature one, but if you go to photos you can look at them all. As we were sitting up there enjoying our view we gave each other a high five. Of all the hikers who attempted this with us today everyone gave up somewhere and pitched their tents, except one other person and us! Score one for determined middle aged women! (And one middle aged man trail name beef steak). We would never bring it up to the younger hikers, but it really did feel good! So we had 5 miles to go and knew we would be going down from there. And we did go down a little bit..... then right back up again!  Good grief how many ups can one day have?!?  The terrain was difficult today too. There were far more than usual rocks and boulders. That would be fine if they were smooth and even, but it wouldn¢t be the A.T. If that were the case. I hiked several miles on uneven oftentimes unstable jagged rocks. My hiking boots don¢t have a lot of give, and my feet are killing me tonight! Well if I¢m being completely honest my whole body hurts tonight!! I ran out of water with 3 miles to go. By the time I made it to where Papa Big Swig was waiting(40 minutes later than expected) I was parched and HANGRY! Way beyond hungry! We drove straight to that little diner in Stecoah where I drank 3 diet sodas. I had the pulled pork dinner with a baked potato, corn, and Texas toast. Warm apple pie with ice cream for dessert.  Much improved! Papa Big Swig drove us back to the camper, and I¢m too tired to even take a shower. I washed off, put on PJ¢s, and came to the lodge where there is WiFi to complete my journal entry.  WiFi/cell service may be an issue starting Sunday for a few days. If ever I¢m not able to get an entry in, I will catch it up as soon as I possibly can.  If my body will move tomorrow, I plan to put my boots back on. Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018)Where¢s your faith?