Date: 2013-04-29
From: Wesser Bald Shelter

To: Russell Fields Shelter
Miles today: 48.2
Weather: light rain

I'll update the mileage and destination when I get a chance. Love you all!!! 4/25/2013 Miles 16FitBit Steps 42,707Floors 626Miles 19.03So today has been a lot of emotions. Woke up late today and enjoyed the heater and the bunk. I was the only one in the bunkhouse Sequoah very nice :-). Showered again and then head down and had breakfast at the restaurant. It was a little cold today trying to hike out. But much better than heat. I had a hard time this morning, not with the climb, but feeling kind drug up. Dizzy like. So I keep my yes geared toward the ground/rocks until I hit a limb smack in the noggin. Ummm so I started looking up some. A good part of the morning was a mix of not sure I could go on and then convincing myself I would be fine. I really just didn't want to get sick again. Yesterday sucked! But it worked out also cause I've heard the hikers out had a rough night in the weather. The second half of the day was great views but also thoughts of mom. I keep seeing butterflies everywhere, and one seemed to fly ahead of me on the trail most of the afternoon until N.C 143 (highway). It was a beautiful yellow and black butterfly that seemed to not allow me to get a pic, but sure did enjoy helping me keep motivated. I'm sure it was mom being with me the day I needed it. I seemed to run out of energy at N.C 143, but it was only 2.5 miles to Brown Fork Gap Shelter so I went on after a short break. The German Guys (Frank and Norbid) caught up to me and planned on making it to BFGS by 5:30... I beat them... Hehe. What they call "Jacobs Ladder" was prob the toughest incline to date, but some how I managed to pass a lot if folks (mind you they were all older and fatter then me... Lol it took me 44 min to make this 2.5 miles which I found awesome considering the up up up. Much harder than two days ago, but seemed to be easier. Met some people from Austria today, Grey Beard (80 years old), met back up with Tim from a couple nights ago, and many others I forget. Oooo yeah "Turtle" like 70 years old but he kinda does look like a turtle. Lol The most awesome person I met on the trail today was a kid (prob 6 or 7) on top of Cheoah Bald who's name is "Road Kill" he was so funny. Hiking with his mom, two sisters and a brother. Overall today was interesting but made me realize how doable this trail is. Is very mental more than physical. I forget about the hills and how hard it was. Besides that my legs are really getting more happy. The mental part is what matters. When your alone with only yourself to keep you company. It's a very new place for me to be. Last thing!! I've had a trail name for my newer trekking pole for a couple days now... It's "Data" like from Star Trek TNG... I came up with one for my wooden trekking pole that I've had for years "Old Yeller"... Both are helping me so much... And MOM. Later!!!!! 4/26/2013 Miles 12.2FitBit Steps 34945 Floors 266Miles 15.57So here I am at day 15 of the hike. Two weeks just crazy that I'm here. Made it to Fontana Dam Shelter. Only a short day today considering that I had to re-supply at the village ad the next shelter is almost 12 miles in the Smokies and your not suppose to to camp except at the shelter areas. So I headed out today from Brown Fork Gap Shelter most of the day was pretty easy today. Lots of nice critters and cool new Birds to look at. A Red one with Black tip wings, and a Blue, Grey, and White one. I also managed to get a picture if a woodpecker and a chipmunk today. I was really happy cause the chipmunks and woodpeckers are not very cooperative in posing for pics. Today I was feeling a lot better but I did notice that if you have to go poo then it's best just to do it and not wait. It kind of makes for a crappy feeling while hiking. The only part of the day that was difficult was the 2.5 miles down from one of the campsites up the mountain from the dam. It was kinda like the day in Glacier National Park where we hiked 5 miles downhill from Syiah (sp) Pass but this time was with a 30lb pack on. My feet were definitely happy to head to the store to get some Yoohoo and Chocolate milk. Yummmmmy!!! I had some good trail magic from Allen who drove me to the village, then Mother Hen took me and Tim to the soda machine a little while ago. It was so good having a Cherry Coke!!! Well we are at the Fontana Hilton with a bunch of folks who are half drunk from not hiking today. Lol I'm about to call it a night at 8:30pm. Later!!! 4/27/2013 11MilesFitBit Steps 27,514Floors 468Miles 12.30Well the mice are definitely at Fontana Dam Shelter. I had two wanting to play with me last night. One was red and liked my boots a lot. Lol Today I started at 8am and ended at 1:15pm. Although the elevation climb was over 4,000 ft it didn't seem that bad. They say it's the toughest climb on the AT but I didn't think so. Maybe it was due to my focus on getting to Mollies Gap Shelter due to the rain ad cold. But I did better than I thought. 11 miles in 5hrs isn't that bad for a unpleasant weather day. I will say that if I can do today, nothing else should be as bad. Unless it snows and gets below 0, then I might not like it. Lol I got one nice view today but that was about it. When I got to the shelter I stripped naked of all my wet clothes then out on dry ones. I've pretty much been in my sleeping bag keeping warm. I ate lunch and dinner at the same time. Good crowd here tonight considering the weather but all are thru hikers except for two guys and a older lady (I saw here tatas when she stripped down, they were hanging to her hips) heheheHere tonight are some a couple Red Velvet (he) and Predator (Her), tow dudes I haven't meet one started on the day I did. The other two guys from the last week, names I can't remember, and Janet "JellyBean "very nice lady and a guy friend "Sir Packs Alot" ( I think they are Family) Well I think I'm gona watch The Hunger Games tonight. :-) 4/28/2013 Miles 2.8FitBit 7050Floors 67Miles 3.54Today was an easy yet cold and wet and windy day to Russell Fields Shelter. I plan on doing this again tomorrow to Spence Field Shelter due to the nasty weather again. Hopefully Tuesday will turn out as planned and there will be sunny weather so I can get to Double Spring Shelter (13.5) or Mt. Collins Shelter (19.5) if we get a good sunny day (Please Mother PELEASE)Anyway about today, I've been here for hours!! Left at around 7am and made it to this shelter around 47min later. Just a hanging in my sleeping bag kind day. :-) it's actually pretty funny to think that if I wasn't here I'd prob be hanging at Starbucks for hours and hours unless its nice and I'd be hanging outside Starbucks for hours and hours. LolWell the rest of the day will be spent reading and watching The Hunger Games. Well and chatting with all the other hikers. Later!!!