Make it count: Day #61

Day #61 - AT Hike

Tuesday, May 12 - Day #61 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 15.1
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 788.5/2,193 (35.96%)

Stecoah Gap (150.6) to Fontana Dam Shelter (165.7) - tent at Fontana Dam Shelter

Total ascent - 3,130’
Total descent - 4,490’

Total States Completed - 1/14

**No rain

Coming to you live from the Fontana Hilton - that’s what they call the Fontana Dam Shelter because it’s one of the largest shelters on the entire AT. Signs would indicate it’s closed - so I’m sleeping in my tent nearby. I’m about 1/2 mile from the Great Smokey Mountain National Park Entrance. One other guy is here (Lost poles) - we talked for a couple hours over dinner.

Today went pretty smoothly. I got over to Standing Bear right at 6am and the Hostal Caretaker was ready to go with the shuttle. We had a nice conversation during our 2-hr drive. She’s been running the Hostal for 24 years. I feel bad for her - as this is her leanest year with the Smokey’s closure. She has 3 kids - 2 still in College/High School - so they are home now helping her out.

When I got dropped off at Stecoah Gap - a flood of memories came over me about this place. I remember sitting at that picnic table - completely confused over what to do - Should I continue on the trail? Should I go back to Missouri/Colorado? How/When am I ever going to get back here? So much has happened since I’ve been here (I walked 600 miles since my bypass) - but I still remember almost every emotion I had at that time. Crazy!

It was 8am & 41 degrees - onward to my 5 day journey to finish Tennessee/North Carolina. A rough 2.6 mile stretch got it started - with a 500’+ climb in less than 1/2 mile - very, very steep. My calves were screaming at me again. (There’s got to be a reason the Tour De France cyclists ride 50+ miles on their off days during the tour). I think my body tries to start healing when I take days off with little to no walking - then, when I start up again - it’s ROUGH sledding. Maybe I need to do a shake-out hike and stretch really thoroughly on my Zero days. Noted!

15.1 miles today helped me complete the section before the Smokey’s. I took it pretty slow - my heels were hurting badly at the end of the day. I’m trying the Dr Scholl’s inserts tomorrow to see if they make a difference.

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My schedule for the next few days is pretty locked in - as I had to make actual reservations at shelters. Here’s what things look like:

Wednesday - 15.1 miles to Russell Field Shelter (180.8). 4,757’ vertical ascent.

Thursday - 16.4 miles to Double Spring Gap Shelter (197.2). 4,877’ vertical ascent.

Friday - 21.0 miles to Peck’s Corner Shelter (218.2). 5,044’ vertical ascent

Saturday - 23.3 miles to Standing Bear - my car (241.5). 3,788’ vertical ascent. **(I do have a shelter between Peck’s Corner and Standing Bear reserved as a backup if needed to split up the 23 miles)

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There’s over 18,000’ of vertical ascent through the Smokey’s - 75 miles. The goal is to knock it down in 4 days. The weather is setting up to be pretty nice - with lows only in the 40’s, highs in the upper 60’s. That’s green light conditions!

I’m looking forward to seeing the sites in the park. Everybody had said it’s pretty impressive when the weather cooperates (lots of times people are just trying not to freeze to death and don’t really care about much else). Maybe my bypass will work out for me after all - with beautiful conditions. Let’s hope!

Goodnight from within earshot of the GSMNP. To a fun, rewarding day tomorrow!