Im Home But I Ain't Done Yet

So I decided to come off the trail for a bit. Not sure where this idea came from but once the thought of seeing my family and going home for a little got into my head it wasn't coming out. I feel good about my pace, and coming off the trail after the 25% was fine with me. So I took a 23 hour bus trip back here to st.pete. I was calling this a zero week but its going to turn into two zero weeks. I'm loving the time I've gotten to spend with friends and family but I miss the trail more and more each day. Getting my butt back to the mountains after memorial day! Next stop Maine! -Cool Pants

Erwin, TN to Damascus, VA

Couldn't get these in any kind of order. The mobile app I'm working with is not that cool. You can kinda get a idea of how the trail went by the previous post I did. Nasty weather, grassy balds, river and waterfalls to the lake.

Hey all, sorry for the longer time between post. I'm usually exhausted when I get into camp or town then it's eat and sleep from there. But sometimes its hard to sleep with the sound of gun shots or a bear right outside your tent....I'll get to that soon. So this past week and a half I was lucky to have my dad come up to hike again, this time for 120 miles! He met me in Erwin, TN and after waiting out 2 days on a nasty storm to pass, we were back on the trail. The following few days were still cold and wet but after all the weather and muddy muddy trail we came out on to the coolest section of trail I've seen so far. From the TOP of Roan Mountain, TN to Damascus, VA it was highlight after highlight. The thick spruce forest of Roan Mountain opened up to rolling grassy bald mountains with 360 degree views as we came down into the town of Roan. We left town and the AT climbed up to see views of mountains we had past over. The trail then came down following a wide river and passing a few water falls, ending with the big Lural Falls. As planed, we made it into town the next day to watch the Rays on ESPN! And there was no better place in town to watch the game, eat, drink, and stay the night than the Ice House Saloon. The owner put the game on the "big" screen and let us camp out back. It was perfect! The next day the trail still had more us. We decided to take it easy after the longer night we had. This was a great idea and just 7 miles up the trail there was lake. Beach and all...it was a great spot to take a dip and relax. We left the beach with just 2 miles to the camp site also on the lake. So here begins that bear story you all wanted to hear. We went to sleep as normal at 9 ( the hikers midnight) and also as normal I woke up at about 1 am to pee. Back in my tent I was having trouble falling back asleep when I heard footsteps coming down the hill above me. Heavy foot steps. I figured it was somebody else up taking a leak, until the steps got closer and I heard breathing. Huffing and puffing. "OH Sh*t this is real and thats a bear outside my tent" im saying in my head and remembering the noodles I spilt from my diner earlier. My bad. So I'm lying in my tent listening to this bear just few feet away slurping up my chicken noodles off the ground. These chicken noodles were spilt in a 6 foot space between my tent and my dads tent, aprox. 2 feet from where my dads sleeping head was. It's probably a good thing he was sleeping. While this was going on I did call out to wake him and also tried to alert the bear so he might move on. After a few minutes he did and I got out to my tent to make sure he left and didn't try to go up the tree where we were hanging our food. I never did get to see him but hearing him was enough for me. I'm still going to stick with the idea that I'd rather have a bear encounter then a snake encounter but odds are they'll both come up again.
So here are the numbers 1 bear, 1 venomous snake, 1wasp sting, 3 states down, and almost 500 miles done!
On a side note Tennessee has the worst bug problem in history. I saw the biggest lizard I've ever seen in the mountains, the biggest wasp I've ever seen..the size of my thumb, caterpillars everywhere, nats flying in my face, and ants coming into my tent. Beautiful section of trail though:)
On to living in VA for the next month and about 500 miles....I can't wait to experience some of the northern states but it will all come one day at a time.
-Cool Pants

Say Hello to Cool Pants...

          The hiker formerly known as Sean is now Cool Pants. Thats the trail name I was given apparently because of the plaid board shorts I hike in. I like it! Cool Pants does not like snakes though... Why'd it have to be snakes!? Id pick running into a bear over a snake any day. But it'd had to be a huge rattlesnake when I was coming down into Hot Springs, NC. It was the perfect day to see one. The mountain was hot and dry totally opposite of the Smokys when I was sliding down the mountain on ice. Its nice that the rattlesnake does give you a warning tho and he sure did. I happened to be hiking with someone that day and he thought it was a good idea to move the highly venomous thing off the trail. I can't say I thought this was smart but with a good part of a fallen tree we pushed him to the side. He didn't go easy. The guy that I was hiking with that day I had ran into the night before on top of this freakin awesome place Max Patch. Ive told a lot of people about that place and I'd say it was the highlight of my trip so far. Anyways, Toby was just out for a short overnighter or two when I told him I was planing on pulling out 20 miles to Hot Springs. He jumped on board and the next day we were on it. I hadn't hiked much with anyone else but I'm glad I met up with him. Shots out to 'California' if your reading this, 20 miles a day is tough! We had a good time and Hot Springs was a great way to end the day. The local brew was great and I even got the hook up on some moonshine! Sitting in a bar in small town NC/TN, talking to a local about moonshining was perfect. And when I say local, I'm talking about the one thats in that bar every night and the one that I witnessed eat a 2" bug with wings. " It TASTE SWEET." he said using a thick drunken southern accent. 

          Ive been on the trail for over a month now and have about 350 miles in the books. I feel great other than some blisters on my feet and hands, and a sore ankle that I haven't figured out. There was a couple of pretty nasty days this past week. The rain started one night and didn't stop for over 24 hours later. I did not have a good day. I had a pretty significant leak in my tent the night before and I was wet and cold that day. I decided to go into a hostel the next night and I'm really glad I did. Warm and dry:) but the saying goes…."No rain, no pain, no Maine". 

                                 Sunset on Max Patch

                                 Max Patch balds

                                 I really hate snakes

                                 The A.T marked down main street in Hot Springs, NC

                                 Bacon wrapped chili dog and mac n cheese in Hot Springs:)

                                 Hot Springs, NC

                                 Mountain Laurel beginning to bloom

Spence Field in the Smokies 

Clingmans Dome, the highest point on the A.T

Trail up to Clingmans Dome in the Smoky Mountains

Awesome views from Wesser Bald

                                                                      The Jump Off

                                                        Trillium blooms were everywhere

                                                                    @ Fontana Dam

                                                    I was able to get so close to these deer

                                                              First night in the Smokies

                                               Thru the Smokies wildflowers were everywhere.

ICCCEEEEEE....I really busted it here.

I really enjoyed the hike thru the Smokies

Sitting in Gatlinburg for a second night. Im extremely anxious to get back on the trail but waiting because the weather forecast temps possibly in the teens. I had no problem with the last night I had in the 30's (except getting out of bed) but I think I'll freeze my face off if the temps go below 20. I got off the trail at Cligmans Dome, the highest point on the AT, a huge landmark. The hike up the 6,600+ peak was amazing, some of the best miles so far. I took my time to really enjoy the hike. The views were spectacular as the trail wined up the ridge through evergreens then open patches of grass. The smell of the Christmas trees was the one scent more powerful then myself.

A few days ago it was hard getting back in the swing of things after having my dad to hike with and then taking 2 zero days with Christina Lima who drove up to see me. The zero days that I take off hiking are excellent! Got to do some white water rafting, have some fun around town, and just relax. On the down side of one of my days off the trail I happened to get stung by a wasp. Out of alllll the flying stinging things that have flown by me on the trail its the one thats hiding inside my pack indoors that stings me. That was my first bee sting ever and I was kinda anticipating it on this trip. Wasn't bad at all but pretty nervous for the possibility of another as I hear thats when reactions occur. I have a epi on deck just incase.

Hitch hiking into gatlinburg was kinda hard. I think the longer my beard gets the harder it will be. Planning on writing a post on hitch hiking soon, lots to talk about there. I'll tell you right now though I've always felt fine with it.


Until next time....

The magic is in the air....Im talkin about trail magic. Whats trail magic you ask.....
So, your just walking down the trail, walking, walking, and walking. Then all of a sudden it appears....hot dogs, soda, cake and cookies. "Oh! I dont mind if I do." The people that bring this love to us hikers are so  so awesome. One in particular was Miss Ginger Snap. After crossing the hundred mile mark, I came up on a large box hanging above the trail and note attached to a tree. The note said congrats on your first hundred miles and gave some encouragement to all us thru hikers with enjoying the trail and making it to Mt. Katahdin. And that she was going to try her best to keep this box stocked. I was already feeling the love just by the note. The note signed Ginger Snap- AT thru hiker. So I lowered the box and it was bare. Bummer. So I keep walking and walking and.....here she comes hiking up the trail. Little Miss Ginger Snap; Red hair, freckles, and a huge smile, holding three big bags of homemade slices of cake. She was happy to do this for us and we were so happy to get it. Whether its food, a ride into town, or a cold drink, its all a show of love to us backpackers and man is it glorious:) Happy trails.....