Make it count: Day #62

Day #62 - AT Hike

Wednesday, May 13 - Day #62 - AT Hike

Miles Hiked Today - 15.1
Total Miles Hiked on AT - 803.6/2,193 (36.64%)

Fontana Dam Shelter (165.7) to Russell Field Shelter (180.8) - stayed in the shelter at Russell Field (first shelter stay)

Total ascent - 4,757’
Total descent - 2,199’

Total States Completed - 1/14

** Rain Day (rained a little after midnight and through about 9am. Really light rain - not a problem

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BREAKING NEWS - BREAKING NEWS

We have our first BEAR sighting!!! About 12:30pm today - I was 5 miles away from my final destination - I was walking a steep incline on a ridge - I heard a big commotion to my right (down the hill). I stopped - down the ridge was a huge black bear walking away from me at about 75 yards. It was a big ol’ boy. The good thing - it was walking away and there was some distance between us. Then - all of a sudden I hear noises in front of me on the trail — whoa ——- it was just 2 hikers coming down the hill - but they scared the snot out of me. I hadn’t seen any animals or people all day to this point (except for a couple runners really early this morning). So seeing the bear and then having the hikers come around the corner all at once - crazy. It was actually great to see them. I felt more comfortable with more people. They said the runners told them about the bear a ways up the trail.

I don’t know what it is about bears that freaks me out - but not overly comfortable when I see them. Today’s encounter was totally benign- hopefully any future encounters will be the same.

Coming to you live from the Russell Field Shelter. I am actually staying in the shelter tonight!! This is big news - because I’ve not stayed in a shelter the entire trip to date. The reason - the Smokey’s sort of want you staying in the shelters vs. camping if there is space. Also - there’s only 4 people here tonight (single older guy, dad/son) - they are both tenting - so I have the shelter to myself. Better for Covid-19 distancing - as there is very little tent options without camping on top of somebody (I’ve heard the tent options are very minimal in the Smokey’s - appears true so far)

I can’t believe there’s only 4 people here. Crazy! I was so worried about getting my back country permit - and there is nobody in the park. I saw 8 people all day (3 at my shelter, couple with the bear, 2 runners, and Lost Poles from the shelter last night). I expected the trails to be fairly active - it’s a ghost town out here

The day went really well overall. I felt strong today. I made great time up the first 2,300’ climb and then just kept consistent. I got into camp around 3:30pm (after stopping for an hour to have lunch with Lost Poles).

Getting into the park this morning was unceremoniously easy. No rangers - no gates - nobody to show my pass. I was hoping to see somebody: “Hey - over here - I have my permit - want to see?” I just hooked a left onto the AT Trail after walking across Fontana Dam - and then it was just like any other day (except for the bear of course)

The other wild animal I just saw here at the camp - a group of wild boar ran by the shelter about 50 yards out. Very cool! I didn’t even know there were wild pigs in the Smokeys.

Very positive returns with the Dr Scholl’s inserts today. The heels still hurt some - but significantly less than yesterday and past days. We’ll continue trying them and see if today was a 1-off or if they are truly the answer (raising the heel to keep the Achilles from stretching so much)

Here’s to a big day - BEARS and my first shelter stay. Let’s hope for another strong performance tomorrow.

——— “He’s somewhere in the Smokey Mountain Rain”.