7/1-7/6/23 65.6 miles

I took a zero. Seems like every 5 or 6 days I just don’t feel like slogging down the trail all day. It really gets tedious actually, especially with the gray skies overhead and surrounded by wet, green vegetation. What does it mean when I start counting centipedes and then refine that to include which direction across the trail each is traveling?

This is an endurance event for sure. I picked this time of year to finish these last 470 miles to avoid crowds of NOBOs (north boulders) and to finish the AT in time (mid-August) to report to the American Long-Distance Hiking Association-West (ALDHA-West) and officially earn the Triple Crown of Hiking. It’s also the time of year when all the trees and bushes have their view shrouding foliage. Fall would have views, oh well.

The walking is hard of course, but not really hard. I mean I get assorted aches and pains, I get tired, I slip and fall, I get cold and wet. There are hikers out for a few days, not a lot, but nice to see them.

What a strange world I’ve created. Hike, boring and tedious, then get a shuttle to comfort. Only on the AT! Fontana, then Gorgeous Stays near the NOC, then Franklin and so on….

Anyway, my hike has recently been about wonderful shuttle providers and places to stay inside. “Platinum blazing” is getting me down the trail. There are drivers listed in the FarOut app who will pick me up, take me to a trail head, pick me up at a designated road access trailhead at the end of my day, then take me back to wherever I’m paying to stay. And then the thunder showers commence. It’s a cash transaction. Without exception, every driver has been prompt, courteous and professional. I’ve tried to stay at hostels that support hikers, but many are taking a break at this time since the NOBO bubble has passed through and there’s just a few hikers needing their services. So I’ve found hotels. I wanted to avoid the crowds and so I have. A bit lonely, but also rather pleasant to have these beautiful woods to myself. I’m happy to be here.