June 22, 2010-November 16, 2010.
Fontana Dam to Springer Mt.
November 7
So coming out of Fontana, I remember their still being snow on the ground, and the temperature pleasantly in the 40s or 50s. Because of the two "zero" days I took on the 5th and 6th, I was wanting to make up some time once again. The plan that day was to do a 24 mile day to Wesser Bald Shelter, but instead of doing that, I cut the day short and went to Rufus Morgan shelter, which is just beyond the Nantahala Outdoors Center (NOC). I hit the NOC just before dark that day. The place is pretty cool; their is an outfitter their and a restaurant, and the people I had been hiking with and I had some good food there, and night hiked to the Rufus Morgan shelter afterwards.
Nov. 8
The climb out of the NOC is absolute hell. It is about a 3000 foot elevation change in 6 miles out of there, and I remember it taking me about 3 hours to do the 2.8 miles from Rufus Morgan to the "Jump up Lookout". I passed Wesser Bald which had a nice observation tower on it that day. On the night of the 8th, I stayed on top of Wayah Bald, where I witnessed the most amazing sunset on the entire trail. Their is a giant castle-like observation tower on Wayah, and the colors of the sunset and the views of the distant Smokies were unreal. I stayed inside the castle-like observation tower by myself that night. It was a little creepy, and of course I had some coon hunters come by to wake me up in the middle of the night. Also that night was, I believe, the first time mice have actually gotten into my food bag. I didn't exactly hang it that well in the tower, so they got in.
Nov. 9
By the 9th, the weather had warmed up substantially from where it had been a few days prior. Nantahala, the range of mountains in this area of North Carolina, is Native American for, "land of the noonday sun". I quickly realized what they meant by that. Since there was no sun cover since the leaves were off the trees, the sun was beating down on me and was pretty annoying. But since it was November and the weather was still relatively amazing, I cannot complain. I went into town on the 9th as well. I hitchhiked into Franklin, NC from Winding Stair Gap. The hitches in and out were really pleasant, and both people that picked me up had cool stories to tell me. In Franklin, I ate an entire Little Caesars Pizza from the Kmart there. Also picked up some beer and got relatively drunk in the parking lot and continued this on the trail hiking out of town that day. That night, I met some really cool section hikers from Alabama, and I was absolutely in awe by the one kids North Face Cats Meow sleeping bag. Those things weigh absolutely nothing and pack down to the size of a Nerf football. I got to have one.
Nov. 10
From Rock Gap shelter, I pulled a 20 mile day to Standing Indian Shelter. There were a ton of day hikers out near Albert Mtn. I have been told that Albert Mtn. is one of the toughest climbs in the south, but I thought it was pretty simple. Going over Standing Indian (or I guess close to the top, the trail doesn't go quite over the summit) that evening was amazing. Through the trees I could see a ridiculously deep valley and the colors were great as well. I stayed at Standing Indian shelter that night, alone. The shelter is know for being in a high bear activity area, and I was sort of freaked out. I still did not hang my food bag, and left it about 3 yards from where I slept. Nothing happened.
Nov. 11
The next day I crossed the border into Georgia, my last state. I was so happy when I crossed that line. I remember passing a shit ton of day and section hikers out that day. Whenever some of them asked where I was coming from, and I said Maine, the reaction on their faces was always priceless. They either looked like they saw a ghost, or would simply say something like, "Well I'll be damned". I actually had one guy video tape me the previous day after I talked to him for awhile. It was pretty cool. The night of the 11th, I stayed at the Hiawassee Inn in Hiawassee, GA. As you can see from the last week or so, I've took it easy and stayed in town a lot at the end because I had the money to. I also ate at a crappy all you can eat Chinese Buffet in Hiawassee, which will play into my account of my thru hike in a couple of days...
Nov. 12
Out of Hiawassee, I did a 19 mile day to Blue Mtn Shelter. Nothing really to note except the passing of the "swag of the Blue Ridge" sign, which I thought was an interesting name for a gap.
Nov. 13
The next morning, I woke up to a rumbling belly. I tried to make it to the outhouse, but couldn't quite get there. Diarrhea. The thought went through my mind, "Oh shit (pun intended), not purifying my water in the Smokies has finally caught up to me. I probably have giardia". I was considering turning back and going the 2 miles back into Helen and taking another zero day. But I was stubborn and pushed on, smelling of shit. I did 18 miles to the Walasi-Yi outfitter at Neels Gap, with my stomach cooperating with me most of the day. I stayed in the bunkhouse, washed my shorts and leggings, and felt better the next day. Yep, the diarrhea was most likely due to the 50+ pieces of shrimp I ate at that buffet. I guess it was partially my fault.
Nov. 14
It rained all day on the 14th. It was the most miserable day I had on trail. I totally destroyed my camera-phone, which also functions as my alarm clock and is the only piece of equipment that I had that told time. So I had called a hostel in Dahlonega, GA to pick me up at Neels Gap, and we scheduled for 4 on the 16th. I had no idea what time it was for a day and a half, and of course this is the one time when I really needed to know the time. I also lost all my pictures from SW Virginia south because of this rain. I'm still pretty bitter about it. That night I stayed at Gooch Gap shelter, soaking wet, and alone. Great way to spend your last night on the A.T.
Nov. 16 (I must have skipped a day somewhere)
I summited Springer on the 16th. It poured most of the morning, and the trail was more of a creek. It really didn't matter though; I was so happy and excited. I really didn't stop all day, mostly because of the rain, but also because I was almost finished. When I reached the parking lot at USFS 42, I had a mile to the summit of Springer. That last mile of trail was absolutely incredible. I really can't put it into words. All of the shit I had to go through the previous 5 months would not go for naught; I had risen above all of the people who said I wasn't going to make it; I had conquered the Appalachian Trail. When I reached the summit of Springer, I can honestly say I haven't been more emotional or happy in my entire life. I had accomplished something that few people can ever say that they have done.
Two Thousand, One Hundred, Seventy Nine Point One.
I did it.
