Day 31
Miles Hiked Today - 8.3
Total Trail Miles - 279.2

Rich Mtn. Firetower

Today I felt as though I was walking through molasses. The two days in town really got me feeling lazy. I weighed my pack at the outfitter - it was 47 pounds! Somehow I added 12 pounds since Springer. That totally depressed me for the rest of the day.

I hiked with Zach for a large part of the day. I talked about Scott and he talked about his girlfriend. It made me feel very sad. It's only two weeks until I see Scott, but it seems like forever. I worry that he resents me for having so much fun (well, sometimes) out here, while he stays home and works and packs my maildrops. I just have to trust that he'll tell me what he needs. I would go home in a heartbeat if he asked me to.

I've already experienced winter, spring, and summer on the Trail. At the lower elevations it looks like springtime - many flowers grow right next to the Trail. I've seen brilliant yellow Daisy-like flowers, tiny pink ones, and some little purple Iris-like flowers.

I hope that tomorrow will be a new day with more energy! And I hope that this melancholy wave passes soon.

Day 32
Miles Hiked Today - 18
Total Trail Miles - 297.2

Jerry Cabin Shelter (Tenting)

I hiked 18 miles and fell 6 times today! My ankles kept twisting and I would fall in the snow and land on my face. The hiking shoe experiment has failed! Apparently, my ankles need the support of my heavy boots.

I hiked through a snow squall today - almost a whiteout.

I realized today that being out here in the woods scares me. I don't want it to scare me, and that's part of the reason why I'm out here. I want to feel at home in the woods, alone. I wish I could feel safe by myself.

I'm also really missing Scott and I can't shake the fear that I won't be able to do this for six months without him.

Day 33
Miles Hiked Today - 14.6
Total Trail Miles - 311.8

Hogback Ridge Shelter

This morning was so cold and miserable that I seriously considered walking to the first road crossing, hitching into Erwin, and calling Scott to pick me up. I'm just not sure how long I can do this without him. Maybe my feelings are being magnified by the weather, but I'm really lonely.

My feet are still hurting a lot in my new shoes. I can't wait to get my boots (that I sent home) back in Erwin (when I pick up my mail)!

Day 34
Miles Hiked Today - 15.8
Total Trail Miles - 327.6

Spring Gap Campsite

Today brought another test of my will. I walked 16 miles through snow, slush, ice, and the most intense mud I've ever experienced. This mud could suck your shoes right off! And it almost did on quite a few occasions. Aside from the bad Trail conditions, I also fell down quite a few times because I kept twisting my ankles. I can't wait to get my boots back in Erwin.

This campsite is right next to the road in a nice little cove. When we arrived here tonight, we found trail magic at the road. There was a cooler with Pepsi! It was so nice to drink an ice cold Pepsi. And I don't even like Pepsi!

Today we hiked over beautiful Big Bald with its 360-degree views. A group of us stayed up there for awhile, taking funny pictures and eating.

The weather has ravaged my spirit. I comfort myself with the thought of the Erwin Burrito Company tomorrow. I'm considering leaving the Trail in Erwin. TeaTree suggests that I try to reconnect with the reasons why I wanted to hike the A.T.

Day 35
Miles Hiked Today - 11.1
Total Trail Miles - 338.7

Uncle Johnny's Hostel

Today rejuvenated me and reminded me why I love the thru-hiking life. I really enjoyed my moderately easy 11-mile hike into Erwin, TN. I picked up all my mail, including some amazing vegan cookies from a '99 thru-hiker who is my own personal Trail Angel! I was quickly cheered by my mail and the presence of my friends, Samurai, Brooklyn, and others who were already at Johnny's.

We were shuttled around town by Miss Janet, a local Trail Angel. She spends two months of every year shuttling hikers around from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. What a wonderful lady!!

I am refreshed and ecstatic to be living this spontaneous, bohemian life. I think that the first month of my hike was all about adjustment. Adjusting to new people, a new way of life, and the physical aspects of hiking over mountains with a 40-pound pack. Now I feel like the hike is becoming more mental - more of an experience where I am getting to explore myself. I feel as though I'm on the brink of learning something very important about myself, and it feels really amazing. I can't wait for tomorrow.

Day 36
Miles Hiked Today - 0
Total Trail Miles - 338.7

Uncle Johnny's Hostel

Zach, Cusi, and I hitched a ride back to Hot Springs for Trail Fest. As we drove through the mountains, I played guitar and sang. It was so much fun!

The most amazing part of the day was meeting Mr. Earl Shaffer, the first A.T. thru-hiker, and seeing his slide show of his 1948 thru-hike. So much of the Trail has changed. There have been a lot of relocations of the Trail, and there are new towns and dams that change the landscape and the views. Seeing the Trail back in 1948 really inspired me. I marvel at the thought of what lies ahead. I hope to walk to Maine with all of my closest friends.

Zach has decided to hike the Hot Springs to Erwin section again. He is so curious! He wants to see a section of the Trail for a second time, to know what's coming. Just to have a different experience from seeing everything for the first time. As they say out here - hike your own hike. I fully respect that.

Day 37
Miles Hiked Today - 10.6
Total Trail Miles - 349.3

Beauty Spot

Today was really relaxing. I hiked alone, the weather was gorgeous! Last week I was hiking in snow and today I have a sunburn! I need to slow down. I feel like I've been racing from town to town because of the weather. Now that it's nice out, I want to take my time and enjoy the woods.

Day 38
Miles Hiked Today - 14.5
Total Trail Miles - 363.8

Clyde Smith Shelter (Tenting)

Today was a very enjoyable day! I climbed Chalepa (Unaka???) Mountain, which had a beautiful pine forest at the top. The forest floor was soft with pine needles and the air was sweet with pine scent.

It was quite hot and sunny today - serious sunburn for Sneetch. Only five days left until my visit with Scott. Soooo excited.

Cusi and Samurai are behind me, but I expect to see them tomorrow at the big and much-talked-of Overmountain Shelter. Cusi hikes barefoot - not sure if I mentioned that before. I've taken some pictures of his feet. They are quite rugged looking! Lots of dirt.

Day 39
Miles Hiked Today - 12.4
Total Trail Miles - 376.2

Overmountain Shelter

Started hiking at 7:50 a.m. After hiking three easy miles, I started the climb up Roan Mountain. It's a steady climb - 2500 feet of elevation in 2.5 miles. I reached the top just before the peak got socked in. I got a hint of a view before heading to the Roan High Knob Shelter for a hot lunch of spicy ramen. At the shelter I met two day hikers who had left Trail Magic at Carver's Gap, another 1.5 miles ahead. I quickly hiked on to an ice-cold Coke and a banana. Yum!

For the past three days or so, I've hiked mostly alone. I think I'm getting better at it. At first I was pretty anxious about being alone, but there are always hikers ahead of me and behind me, which is reassuring. But I am getting used to it; I even like it now. No one else goes at my pace, so I'm my own best hiking partner!

Overmountain Shelter is a big old barn and I'm upstairs in all my warmest clothes, relaxing after a nice (but soggy) day of hiking. This barn is huge - there will be about 20 of us here tonight. Should be cozy!

Day 40
Miles Hiked Today - 16.7
Total Trail Miles - 392.9

Camping Spot Near Mile Marker 392.9

Went over the humps today, two beautiful balds. (Matt: Add the following definition to the vocabulary section and then link to it. Bald - - - A mountain with no trees on top of it.) On Hump Mountain, the bigger of the two balds, there were longhorn cattle grazing. I took tons of pictures of them. A bunch of us decided to go into town for lunch. Cusi and I split a pizza (no cheese) and fries, and I bought some more food for today and tomorrow. We got a ride into town with Grizzly Andy's dad, and then we ran into Miss Janet, who drove us back. Small world!