Today we are taking a rest day at Fontana Village Resort just outside of Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
The last few weeks have been amazing. We have made so many new friends and are always meeting more.
Trail life is a very interesting thing. One particularly interesting part is the way that people’s paths diverge and then reconnect in the strangest of ways. Here is a story of one of those instances:
Mac and I had been hiking with two couples around the same age as us. They go by the names of Hustle & Flow and Tinder & Birch. We got along great and had fun spending time in camp together.
After a few days in the woods together we began to approach the town of Hiawassee, Georgia. We all had different plans and went our separate ways not knowing if we would see each other again.
Mac and I headed to the Top of Georgia hostel for a shower and a warm bed. To our surprise Tinder and Birch showed up and we all decided that we would head into town together the next morning for breakfast and groceries.
Getting a ride into town was easy. The hostel owner dropped us off and wished us luck. When we were done with our chores we decided we would try our hand at hitching a ride. And failed. Birch and I hid behind the boys while they timidly threw their thumbs in the air. We were novices.
We casually continued strolling toward the edge of town hoping a kind stranger would pick us up and drive us the 11 miles back to the trail. After a short while we stumbled upon a gear shop about the size of my mothers closest. The man behind the counter invited us in to take a look around and offered to call a friend of his to give us a ride. He says he can be there in twenty minutes, he just has to pick up two other hikers along the way. We thank the shop owner as he warns us that his friend looks suspiciously like Santa Claus.
A short while later Santa pulls up to the store in a large white pick up truck. As we walk over I look into the cab of the truck and realize that the two other hikers are none other than Hustle and Flow!
We all exchange smiles as Tinder, Birch, Mac and I climb into the back of the truck and we head back to the trail, reunited.
We are officially starting to feel like thru hikers. We have hit the 100 mile mark on the trail, and crossed over into North Carolina. Right now we are in Franklin for a rest and a resupply.
Hundreds of people have started their hikes within the same week as us. We are constantly meeting new people, or running into people we thought we ahead of or behind us.
It is a tradition on the AT to be given a trail name. Having a trail name makes it easier to remember people. Sometimes you can pick your trail name, but typically you are given it by the people you hike with.
Everyone knows that Kyle is a problem solver, and after getting a few bear lines unstuck from trees he has been given the very fitting trail name MacGyver.
After noticing that dirt is somehow attracted to me I have been dubbed Katniss Neverclean.
So begin the adventures of Kat and Mac.
Too busy to write a formal post, so here’s a few pictures from the last week!
We started our trip on the Approach trail at Amicalola falls. We were dropped off in the evening and stayed at the Max Epperson shelter at the start of the trail.
We started hiking the next morning and by the end of the day we finally reached the start of the appalachian trail.
Over the next few days we made our way to Neels Gap, the first place to get a shower and a bed. We averaged about 8 miles a day and plan to start doing bigger miles in the next few weeks.
Our legs are sore but we are making a ton of new friends and having the time of our life!
After a fond farewell from our friends and family, Kyle and I are setting off on the adventure of a lifetime.
Our REI family has provided an overwhelming amount of support. At our farewell shindig we were treated to many hugs, a few gifts, and a LOT of drinks.
We were also given a Lego look alike to accompany us on our trek.
Yesterday I weighed my pack for the final time and have an official base weight of 21.4 pounds. On top of that I will be carrying around 8 pounds of food (I’m bringing wayyy too much food) and however much water I need.
It’s a little bit heavier than I would like, but as we hike we will be able to send home the extra things that we may not want.
Today Kyle and I are flying to Atlanta and are hitching a ride from a local to the start of the trail where we will promptly be murdered (according to my mom). We are tenting tonight and start hiking in the morning.
Here we are at the smallest airport I’ve ever seen (Trenton)
We have opted to take the approach trail which is an 8 mile thigh burner that leads to the start of the Appalachian trail. Our first re supply point is in Neels Gap about 38 miles from the start of our hike.
Here we go!!!
Also, Kyle has decided to make his own blog too! Check him out at kfloodhiker.wordpress.com
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