Date: 2017-04-30
From: Groundhog Creek Shelter

To: Walnut Mountain Shelter
Miles today: 13.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Day 33 on the Appalachian TrailApril 30Miles Today: 13.1Total Miles: 260.3I can't even begin to explain how nice it was being able to sleep in my tent last night. I was able to sleep straight through the night with no noises to wake me up and it's amazing how much more rested I felt when I woke up at 6am this morning. I got right to breaking down my gear after I got up in order to get on the trail as soon as possible. After hiking in the heat all day yesterday I wanted to get a good chunk of the miles done before it got hot today. Kinsman left camp around 7 and I left about a half an hour after.The hardest part of the day today was the first 6 miles. The trail went up and over several steep knobs just to drop back down and repeat the same. Eventually we got to the base of Max Patch, a well known spot along the AT for its beautiful open grassy summit with astonishing 360 views. After a short and somewhat easy climb to the top I dropped my pack and instantly laid down on the cool, green grass. It was beyond refreshing. I continued to lay on the grass while Kinsman and several other hikers behind him eventually made it to the summit. We ate a bit and enjoyed the views. Kinsman took off and I chose to continue enjoying the summit for a while longer. I would've loved to stay on top of Max Patch for the rest of the day but there were still 7 miles to go for the day. At high noon I took off down the trail which was headed down for quite a ways and within an hour and a half I had made it 5.5 miles to the base of Walnut Mountain. After a short break I headed up and quickly made the summit. Shortly thereafter I came across the shelter, walked a bit past it and found a great spot to set up my tent with plenty of room for Kinsman to pitch his hammock. He arrived a little after I finished setting up my stuff for the night. Now 4:15, he's just about finished setting up his home for the night and we will soon be relaxing for the rest of the day to prepare for tomorrow's 13 miles to Hot Springs.I spoke with Bon Appetite via text message several times throughout the day today. He ended up camping a few miles shy of where we stayed last night. Parakeet was with him and they were planning on meeting us tonight. Regardless of where they stay tonight, we will all be in Hot Springs tomorrow in our own personal cozy cabin for a day of rest and chores. We all need to resupply for the next several days to get us to Erwin, TN. Things are going pretty well for me out here on the AT. Yesterday marked one month of being on the trail and although I'm not as far down the trail as I expected I would be at this point I'm happy with where I am and how things are going. I know days with bigger miles will come when we get to flatter areas and aren't climbing several thousand foot mountains everyday. I'm feeling stronger than I ever have in terms of physical strength in my legs as well as strength in my chest and lungs. My asthma seems to be getting better. I'm using my inhaler less and I'm able to push up mountains and over long distances without stopping to catch my breath. I have no injuries to speak of at the moment. My feet, legs and knees feel good other than the standard aches and pains that come with hiking all day, everyday. I know it's still early on in this epic adventure but if things continue to go the way they are now, I see myself standing atop the Katahdin sign in a few short months.