June 26th to June 29th

Been resting like the doctor ordered. The steroids are doing their job an the swelling has gone down significantly. Bender and Reef made it into town, was great seeing those guys again there humor has been sorely missed. Just been eating great food trying to put on weight for the trail. Everyone is friendly to hikers around here I've noticed. Got a ride into a nearby town and saw the movie Prometheus. Very excited I got to finally see that movie. Got all the supplies I need to continue my journey tomorrow, I'm ready to cruise.

Doctors visit 25th of June

Ate a great big breakfast at dairy king. Gravy and biscuits followed by a mountain heap of eggs. Saw a doctor at a clinic in town. Had an X-ray done and found out I don't have a stress fracture. Haven't heard such great news in a long time. Doctor put me on steroids for a couple days and told me to rest my foot to reduce swelling. Not the instructions i was hoping for but rest sounds nice now. Damascus has me down for 466 miles completed. Great thing about VA is that I've completed all the hard mountains in the south and the land is more level here. Once I heal I'll be able to hit the high miles all the way into Harpers Ferry. Found me some dead guy ale at a gas station waiting Bender and Reef to catch up with me. Talked to my mom and dad in the morning and Alex at night. It's been a great day.

Damascus June 24th

Hiked in to town, more like limped. 15 mile day all downhill. Almost no water all day, rough way to come into town. First things first when I get into town now it's pizza and beer before all else. Ate about 25 dollars worth of beer pizza and buffalo wings. I feel guilty slamming all that food down but you don't know hunger till you get into town. Amazing meal at Quincey's Pizza. Walked over the the Hikers Inn hostel and got me a bunk for the night. What a place, AC, refrigerator, shower, toilet, and actual sheets and comforters. Weighed myself today, I've lost 16 pounds since I started and it hasn't even been a month yet. Going to see a doctor tomorrow for my foot.

Rough Day June 23rd

My foot is very painful, I think it's either swelling of the tendons or I have a stress fracture. Made it 24 miles today, have 15 more miles to go until Damascus. Besides my foot in doing well. Great views all day long, and cool weather. Water is next to impossible to find out here. Went 7 miles after running out of water to a small water pit. Water is not nice up here but I'm making it by drinking whatever I can find. Potatoes and jerky for dinner again, followed by a snickers bar. Only the finest for a thru hiker. Going to bed now.

Hampton, TN

Hiked 15 miles today to Hampton, TN. The terrain is getting easier, but my foot has become injured some how. If I place my left foot on anything that is not level I have a sharp pain shoot up my foot into my leg. Very painful but I must push on. Found another water fall today, Laurel Falls. Ate lunch there before blue blazing into Hampton. Was very thirsty and found myself a biker bar named the Ice House Saloon. Drank two pitchers of ice cold beer followed by some questionably greasy food. Afterwords I picked up some short term food supplies and hiked back to the trail. If I had known i had to climb a 2 mile straight up mountain I would have never had drunken that beer, what a experience. Ran out of water the first mile up, not good. Decided to call family and friends once I hit the top, my break for the day. Finally got over the mountain and through Hampton again to the Watauga Lake Shelter. An hour before I got to the shelter it started pouring rain, lightning everywhere. Was glad to make the shelter when I did. Two days out from Damascus, VA my resting point.

27.6 mile day

After leaving the Overmountain shelter, I climbed to mountains to the top of a bald. The view was incredible, with no one around for miles. Hiked from sun up to sun down. Came across a a waterfall today, the best water source I've seen lately. With it being so hot out here many streams and water sources no longer exist. Saw a large racer snake in the afternoon. Almost killed the snake to eat and enjoy later but I was focused on time required to cook it I decided against it. Next time hopefully, I'll eat me a snake as anything looks good out here. Finally made camp at 8 pm.

Overmountain Shelter

Today was a nice break day, only did 14.5 miles. The terrain was decent and hilly save for some rocky sections. Going through my food quicker out here, might need to resupply soon. The mountains are something out here. I truly am king of the hill out here. Staying at a biggest shelter I've stayed at so far, a converted barn. The view was incredible.

Longest day yet

25.6 mi
Left Uncle Johnny's hostel early in the morning (7:20). Told my goodbyes to Bender and Reef and was off. Hiking wasn't so bad, just a long day. Finally reached my destination at 8:10pm. Was exhausted and ate like a horse. Pepperoni and rice sides are great out here. No bear bags up here in NC, doesn't make me happy. Takes me forever to find a good spot and then set up my line. Met a cool professor who goes by the trail name Tony the Tiger. Miss Bender and Reef's company already. Going to do a lite day tomorrow just under 15 miles. Still have some mountains to kill.

Uncle Johnny's Hostel

16.5-1842 mi left
Hiked 16.5 miles from Bald Mountain shelter to Erwin, TN. Was an easy hike in as it was almost all downhill. Bender and I left at 8 and arrived at 3pm. Checked in to Uncle Johnny's hostel, into one of the bunk houses. Washed my clothes and took a shower, almost feel human again. Got to eat at a mexican restaurant, ate some fajitas with mountain heaps of sour cream and guacamole. Eating this much hurts but it helps in the long run. I've lost 7 pounds of weight since I started. Doing well, got some more trail food and will be hitting the trail early in the morning.

Day with Bender

Our friend Reef didn't show up to the shelter last night so Bender and I decided to wait till 10 for him to show up from the last shelter. Cooked a hot breakfast, which is a rare thing for me out here. Started pouring rain so I curled up in my sleeping bag and fell asleep. Woke up at 11 to find the rain gone, but no Reef. Bender and I decided to roll on out as we want to be in Erwin tomorrow. Got a ride into town for some much needed food supplies. I eat everything out here. Bought 40 worth of food for two days. Learned a valuable lesson, don't buy food for the trail when you are starving. Bought a quart of ice cream, don't know what I was thinking. Ate 1500 calories at the side of the trail with Bender. We talked all the way to the shelter, which was all up hill. The hills here are really mountains, uphill and very steep. Made a fire to dry off all the sweat I produce from hiking. Don't know if I mentioned before but I got my trail name last week. Bigfoot, after my shoe size problems. Going to pass out now, I'm bushed. Erwin tomorrow.

The day of the ridge line

21mi
Hiked 21 miles, wish the last shelter wasn't so far up the mountains or I could have easily done 30 miles. Left the shelter at 7am, leaving my friends for the trail. Hit a ridge line at the 15 mile mark. Slowed me down considerably, as I was practically bouldering the mountain using my hands to climb. Made my way to shelter where I met some nice hikers. Cooked some mash potatoes, my favorite food out here and added all my salami to it. Wish I had some cheese to add. Mash potatoes cook quickly and fill you up I've learned. Tomorrow is another big day, 19 or so miles.

Hot Springs, NC

Left Walnut shelter and had a nice little 13 mile hike into Hot Springs, NC. The AT passes straight through town. on my way to Hot Springs, I saw my first tombstone and turtle. As soon as I hit town I checked in at Elmer's Sunnybank Inn. Got me some supplies at a local gear shop. Finally have some trail runners, Inov8's which are my favorite. Afterwords I hit up the Hot Springs resort where they have naturally occurring hot spring water. For 13 dollars I got to sit in a hot tub for an hour. Best money spent on the trail by far! It is an incredible experience, that's all that can be said. Met some new friends, Reef, Mouse, Bender, and Gap Fap. Had a couple beers at the local tavern with them. Got the strongest beer they had, a porter. After a porter it was Rouge Dead Guy Ale, which is my favorite beer. Today has been amazing. I'm in high spirits now. Tomorrow the onslaught begins again.

5 Mile Climb

20 miles
Left standing bear hostel and proceeded 5 miles up a mountain with a friend named Moogley. Saw a FFA tower on a clearing where I decided to have lunch. Made it to a beautiful bald spot later on in the day. I was the only one there, something out of the sound of music movie. Saw a bunch of turkeys afterwards. Ended up at the walnut shelter. Hot springs is only 13 miles away.

Standing Bear

240-1943mi
Didn't sleep much last night, guy beside me at the shelter was like a Pratt & Whitney turbine engine all night long. Was on the trail at 7:30 and didn't stop till 3:30. Covered about 19 miles, mostly down hill. Saw a bunch of turkeys and almost got but by a rattlesnake today. Crossed my first big river coming into my hostel, the standing bear. Lots of good food and company here. I'll be on my way the the hot springs tomorrow, can't wait for that tub of hot water.