Hiking Recap

April 15: What a long, beautiful, wonderful, difficult day! We got up and got a later start, since we were waiting for everything to dry out from the night's rain. K-Biz was keeping us in stitches as we packed up, and we wondered if the people in the house on the dirt road at the bottom of the hill could hear everything we said and if they hated thru-hikers for this reason. A retired couple was out hiking today and we yo-yo'd back and forth with stops for water, snacks, and dropping layers. Once again, we saw Shweassel and Shrek. They passed us as the trail became NC border steep, causing us to pant and sweat and wonder if it would be better to stash the poles and just climb up on all fours. On the top of a ridge, I was Spencer, who I had seen day one at the top of Springer Mountain, but had not seen since. He was now known as Papa Smurf because of his shirt color. Our highest climb, up to Cheoah Bald, over 5000 feet, rewarded us with spectacular views, but also causes us to lose K=Biz, who promised to catch up later. We decided at lunch to do a 15 mile push, to allow us to get to Fontana Dam on the 16th before the post office closed. On the descent into Stecoah Gap, the trail became really sketchy and treacherous. Large portions of the trail had washed out, so that we ofter had to climb down 10 feet to a section of loose boulders and rock, pick our way across, and then climb 10 feet back up to the trail. Plus, the trail now sloped perpetually to the left, putting more pressure on the outside of my right ankle. I started feeling a sharp, intense pain in my ankle whenever I stepped down to the left, which was pretty much the whole trail now. For a terrible 15 to 20 minutes, I was using my trekking poles like crutches, trying to take the weight off my right foot. Tears were literally streaming down my face as I hiked along. Big Spoon, behind me, kept saying "Are you okay?" "Oh,yeah," I kept replying, "I'm fine." Happily, the pain eventually subsided as the trail took a turn upward and the angle on my ankle changed.

For all the physical difficulties today had, we were rewarded with the most spectacular views thus far. Spring is erupting around us with carpets of flowers everywhere: trillium, may apple, blood root, trout blossoms, violets, buttercups. And as we made the last push to the shelter, chasing sunset, we passed through a grove of tall trees with the sunlight streaming gold through the still-bare branches. One of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. We are so lucky to be out here now on the cusp of spring. I am so lucky I found these great hiking companions. Life is