So, we have given the Appalachian trail a personality. Rather, I think we have discovered it. In Georgia, the trail takes you up and over every single mountain. Its like, "oh look, here's another mountain, the view is almost exactly the same as from the last mountain, but let's take you up there just to confirm." Then, north Carolina does its best to take you up near the top and then walk you ALL the way around it. It goes out of its way to make a mile as the crow flies more like a ten mile hike. The smoky mountains are their own beast. Apart from the shelters, which are equipped with their own fireplaces, the smoky mountains are way over-rated. The trail follows the ridgeline through a number of pointless ups and downs. And you can't tent, you must make it to an awkwardly spaced shelter location.
Anyway, we are in Hot Springs now. We had to do a 17 mile day and two 13 mile days to get here, probably our best stretch of mileage. I'm pretty proud of us. We spent the night at elmers, and I would recommend that place to everyone. What a cool guy, and what an amazing old Victorian house! It was an honor to stay there.
Day 21: mile 230.1, 12.9 miles
Day 22: mile 247.7, 17.6 miles
Day 23: mile 260.8, 13.1 miles
Day 24: mile 273.9, 13.1 miles
You two are maniacs! 17 miles! The rocks, girl, the rocks! What about the rocks??!!!
ReplyDeleteI'll post any scenic/geology photos to the GLG facebook page, tks!
ReplyDeleteTrying to post some from my camera now. If not, I will email you some teasers!
ReplyDelete