Date: 2015-04-17
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Cosby Knob Shelter
Miles today: 20.3
Weather: light rain

Last night turned into a hiker slumber party as everyone crawled into their bags to get out of the cold, the wet, and the wind, twenty hikers packed in like sardines. The evening was complete with ghost stories and a game of fart ping-pong played by Cambo, Moosehead, and Burnsides (who apparently has funny sideburns).This morning I got up and headed off into - guess what?! MORE WET. It cleared up on and off throughout the day and I finally got some beautiful views of the Smoky Mountains. I don't think that my camera will ever be able to give justice to what I see every day. The miles today were fairly easy, with no steep ascents or descents. Cambo caught up to me after a few hours, and we leapfroggged throughout the day, though I spemt most of it hiking right behind him. He hikes like a machine. I left camp at 6:45 and the guy didn't stop to eat until 12:45. I eat almost constantly, shoving protein bars into my mouth as I walk. Every couple of hours, I get hungry. Expecially today, even though the miles were easy. I snack throughout the day, expecially in anticipation of climbing uphill (need that energy). Every time I think I have too much food, I hit a day of gluttony and clean out my food bag. Usualky the only times I am not hungry are on really hard climbs, when my body is super focused on exerting the effort to get uphill (I hate hills), or when I am just too exhausted.Imagine all of the food you eat in a week.Then imagine hiking with a 20 pound backpack all day. How many calories would you burn? How much more would you eat? Now imagine carrying all of that food on your back in addition to those original 20 pounds. That is why hikers try to eat as many calorie-dense foods as they can, to save on space and weight. Popular trail foods include instant potatoes, Pasta Sides, ramen, PopTarts, nuts, lots of peanut butter, candy, and cheese and summer sausage. I have found tha5 the more disgusting the food, the more likely it is to be found in the trail.I planned my mail drops and all of my food in advance, buying protein bars in bulk with coupons from BJs, dehydrating massive amounts of vegetables, and gathering clearance items. This way I know I won't be stuck eating disgusting junk. The idea was also to provide myself with enough calories and nutrients that I wouldn't be tempted into towns for food and blow my budget too early into my hike. Clearly this part won't work out as well as I hoped, as I spend approximately 10% of each day dreaming about pizza. Lately I have been craving a nice, delicious turkey sandwich as well. With lots of veggies. And maybe mustard, or barbeque sauce. I could definitely eat a sandwich AND pizza, though.Hobble, Frozen Mac, and Coyote are pushing on into the night to get out of the park. I would like to get some night hiking in, but preferably on a warm, clear night.I hope to hit Hot Springs Monday morning for a shower, laundry wifi, and to charge devices. Then I can decide if I want to use my pizza money to stay in a hostel or push on to the next shelter Monday afternoon. I have three packages hopefully waiting for me in Hot Springs: my resupply, fixtures for my pack from Granite Gear, and my new shoes (the Toe-Pinchers have been treating me better the last few days. Maybe the mud makes them more supple.I was happy to get more miles in today, after two days of slogging through mud and suffering through the rain. I hope to pick up a few more miles the next few days so I can have time to explore Hot Springs, which is supposed to be a nice trail town, without throwing my average out the window. I am hoping to do over 15 miles most days so that I can take time off for important events I am thankful that Miles, Jason, and others are tending to the fire that is drying my socks, shoes, amd towel. I am thankful that my tummy is full and that I have enough food to get me to town (I think). Of course, I am thankful for the beautiful trail, and the people who have made and maintain it. This shelter is in a really pretty spot and I especially enjoyed the last tired, slow beautiful mile I spent getting here this afternoon.