Date: 2016-04-25
From: Birch Creek Gap Campsite

To: Spence Field Shelter
Miles today: 11.0
Weather: clear sky

4/25 - Day NineteenI felt good today, day two of my trek through the Smokey Mountains National Park. I hiked a total of 11 miles and felt good. All day I hiked with Mayfly and finished the day off with Special K and Mayfly.I thought the miles were easier today and today is the first day my feet did not hurt at the end.Although I felt good today, I played an AT hikers favorite game.... What am I going to send home to lighten my load?It seems at the beginning of the AT everyone talks about "after the smokies"... As in "after the Smokies I will pick up miles per day" or "after the Smokeys I will send my winter gear home." It seems at first as this is years away, but here I am days away from being out of the Smokies!!!I plan to do both so as I hiked I made a list of things to shed here in about five days which include:Lite long john bottoms (nylon)Lite long john tops (nylon)Gloves (have put them on ONCE)Rain pants (it has always been my plan to scuttle these after the Smokies. I have used them ONCE But I was glad I had them when I did). I intend to look at rain "kilts" at Trail Days in a few weeks. Ya I said it, a rain kilt.Columbia fleece pullover ( I am wearing it now as I type this, but my Patagonia jacket and my Merino Wool mid-weight will be sufficient.Also very soon I will be switching to running like shorts (I have a pair with me, but I will get another). I will send home my Kuhl zip off pants... They are growing to big for my shrinking body.I may send home one pair of sox and my long sleeve REI shirt, but the jury is out on that.The game is to shed as much weight as possible. I am no where's near over packed, so every shed ounce makes me lighter. I want to get into the big mile game and summer is coming. Today I also discovered a tear on my load strap on my pack-back. Pretty lame Gregory, no wonder Osprey and ULA has kicked your ass on the trail....185 miles and you pack is falling apart. I may be shopping for a new pack at trail days. Sucks, the Gregory actually feels good on me. I am still waiting to see a bear. One hiker at the last shelter caught one on her video and I saw a great track right by the shelter spot I am tenting at now. One section hiker saw two lower today on a trail other than the AT. I am waiting to see a hog! We walked through miles of fresh rootings today (rootings are where hogs root up earth looking for worms, grubs and acorns). The Smokies have a rooter problem!!!Tonight I am tenting at the Spence Field Shelter. There were spots in the shelter, but a loud mouth girl turned me off to the thought of sleeping in there, plus no rain is in the forecast. It's weird, I am seeing new faces a lot and there are several section hikers in the Smokies. Right now my group of a few days ago are spread out. I understand both Feel Good and Magic Man are having knee issues. Some folks are behind me and some are ahead. It's really bizarre how things get shifted around out here.Mayfly and I are going for 13.5 miles tomorrow. We want to get through Smokies in 5 to 6 days. Because you must stay at a shelter (versus stealth camp) one's hike is somewhat dictated by the shelter locations. My mind and my body are ready for a good long hike in the am.