Date: 2006-04-28
From: Deep Gap

To: Hurricane Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 17.1
Weather: few clouds

Passed 500 miles today. A big piece of trail behind me. It doesn't feel like much, just a lot of walking. Maybe it should feel like a bigger deal, but I'll walk again tomorrow and the next day. All the same, it does that first day in Georgia feels like a long time ago. It's the looking back, not looking ahead that matters. I was talking to a section hiker, Millipede, at the end of the day, telling stories about the trip so far. We mentioned other hikers we've seen who look fresh and green and innocent to what they have ahead of them. He's a past thru-hiker from 2004. I'm newer to the game but now deep into it. This gives us credentials. Still, I'm just proud of anyone I see who's even thinking about attempting this. I tell all the section hikers and day hikers that it's possible and that they can do it too. I often encourage them to give it a try.I do feel seasoned when I look back at the day in August when I decided it was time to do this. When I told Andrew what I wanted and got his full support there was no turning back. It was just over six months ago that I started planning and making it real. I was very green but very serious. I knew my feet would be on the trail. I remember seeing the plaque on Springer Mountain and feeling teh pride at getting so far, of knowing I had a long way to go, and knowing I have what it takes to get there. I remember the excitement I felt, and still feel. I remember how fresh I was and knowing I had a lot to learn. Now, I've learned quite a bit. This whole thing is part of me now. It's what I do.There is total simplicity to living out here. I know what I'll do and how to do it. I wake up, I eat breakfast, I pack. I walk. Each step in the process has its own routines. I know my stove intimately by now. I know how to take care of my gear and where every piece of it is. I don't carry anything that isn't essential. My only possessions are on my back. It makes me free.Apparently, there was a sign at the 500 mile mark. I missed it and don't feel the need to hike back two miles just to see it. I'd go back to see a mountain or a view, but I know I've hiked 500 miles and don't need a sign to prove it.This was a day to remember and not because I've come over 500 miles. I woke up in the woods, not a shelter, and had the whole thing to myself. I didn't have to jockey for space to put my stove or feel like I was racing to get packed and move out. I ate slowly and packed slowly.I hiked through Grayson Highlands, a beautiful section of trail. The highland are green rolling hills. Huge boulders jut out of the ground and define the landscape. The trail crosses over and between them. Wild ponies graze freely. I wish I'd had apples or carrots to feed them. They may be wild, but they're very friendly and docile. This would be a great place to take Emily and Haley. They could run in the grass and climb on the rocks and they would love all the ponies. I thought it would be a great place to hike with Andrew. The highlands go on and on and we could have a big lunch on top of the rocks. I'm not sure why I haven't heard about Grayson before. Maybe Virginia wants to keep it a secret just for themselves. I would. I met a few people, not many, hiking between the boulders. People always like to ask about thru-hiking. One even shook my hand and congratulated me. I was surprised at the time, but then remembered teh awe and respect I had for all the thrus I've seen and met in Maine. I'm only 500 miles into it, but they seem to know it's a bigger deal than I do. It's just something that i love and that i get to do every day. Six months of hiking doesn't seem like a huge amount of time now. I just walk in a long straight line now. It's easy. The hiking isn't easy, but the hike is easy.