Ruth: Gord is camped on the top of Bald Mountain tonight so here is a bed time story about the Hermit of Bald mountain, a man named David Grier. Now our best friend and house mate is a Don Grier who is the descendant of an unbroken line of David Griers. A man who...
I met Tim at Walnut Mountain Shelter the night before I arrived at Hot Springs, N.C. He was out on a lengthy day hike and paused for a smoke and a drink. Tim thru hiked the AT a few years ago and tries to get back on the trail whenever he can. He...
It was forecast to rain last night for the first time in a week. I therefore ensured that I was in a shelter rather than the tent. What I had not anticipated, however, was the wind. It was blowing on the ridges all day yesterday, but the intensity...
This morning I saw another bear. He saw me first and did what was best for both he and I: he ran away as fast as his furry black legs could take him.Bears in this area have good reason to flee humans as quickly as possible. Yesterday, as I crossed the Park...
Today I came down from the high ridges in the Smokies: last night I slept at 5,900 feet and tonight I am only at 2,700. This has the effect of taking me back in time with respect to the seasons. At the higher elevations fall was well advanced, with almost...
There is one road that crosses the AT in its 70 mile run through the Park. I found myself on the side of that road at 3:30 yesterday, with the possibility of walking 3 miles uphill to the next shelter, or hitching into town for pizza and a shower. I let my...
Two days ago I entered Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is a large park that includes parts of both Tennessee and North Carolina. It is also the most popular national park in the US, with more than 11 million visitors last year.About 70 miles of...
Last night I stayed at the Fontana Dam Shelter, well known on the AT as the Fontana Hilton. It is a beautiful and spacious shelter that sleeps 24. There is a washroom block nearby that has flush toilets and a hot shower, amenities not available at the...
I have found a good daily rhythm on the AT. Making and breaking camp has become second nature, and most of the remaining daylight hours are spent walking. I am enjoying the variety in the scenery as well as the changing seasons. If I didn't miss my...
I was grinding my way up Wayah Bald at a point where the AT crossed a small road, when a truck stopped and an older gentleman got out. We chatted for a few minutes and he revealed that he was looking for seeds on the wild rhododendrons and azaleas. He was...
The idyllic, summer like weather that we had been enjoying has been replaced by the wind and rain of the former Hurricane Nate. It came ashore in Louisiana yesterday and its core should pass west of us this evening.After two nights at the Top of Georgia Hostel...
Hikers who attempt to hike the entire AT in a continuous outing are known as "through hikers". Walkers who are only doing a portion of the trail are called "section hikers". Hikers are further distinguished by whether they are northbound (NOBO) or...