I left for the trail on March 8th. I planned to spend 6 weeks hiking. I had never done anything more than a 3 day camping trip (though I did a decent amount of day hikes leading up to my departure). I was dropped off at the NOC. My hopes were to make it to the Greyson Highlands by the end of my hike.
In the three weeks I spent on the trail, I met a ton of incredible people. I hiked 12.7 miles on my third day. My all time best day was over 16 miles. I did some night hiking. I only saw one snake, and he was irritable and adorable. I wandered through the snow-covered smokies. I woke up in the middle of the night one evening to coyotes yipping and howling next to the shelter I was trying to sleep in. I didn't see any bears, but I heard some incredible stories about them. I also heard some incredible stories about things other than bears. I tented with some amazing people, and found myself in a winter wonderland the next morning (long after the smokies, thank god, because the smokies totally blow). I sang show tunes at the top of my lungs while wandering alone up and down mountains. I discovered that the most difficult thing I will ever have to overcome is myself. I ate the shittiest, most delicious food without a thought (hello Snickers bars and honey buns!) and still came home 20 lbs lighter.
I have so many stories I want to share. I also have a new perspective on a lot of things. I'm going to share some of my experiences here, I suppose. It's as good a place as any.
I don't want to come off as some preachy asshole, though. I mean, really, how much can one person grow and learn in the course of just several weeks?
Each story deserves its own entry. So there's more about my trip to come, very soon. I miss the trail something awful, and I'm hoping that writing about my experiences there will cushion the blow of being forced to come home early. I can't fucking wait to get back out there.
I can't seem to break the habit of waking up with the sun, and once it gets dark I start yawning. So, for now, I'm going to go snuggle my furbabies and get some sleep. It's WAY past hiker midnight.
-L
In the three weeks I spent on the trail, I met a ton of incredible people. I hiked 12.7 miles on my third day. My all time best day was over 16 miles. I did some night hiking. I only saw one snake, and he was irritable and adorable. I wandered through the snow-covered smokies. I woke up in the middle of the night one evening to coyotes yipping and howling next to the shelter I was trying to sleep in. I didn't see any bears, but I heard some incredible stories about them. I also heard some incredible stories about things other than bears. I tented with some amazing people, and found myself in a winter wonderland the next morning (long after the smokies, thank god, because the smokies totally blow). I sang show tunes at the top of my lungs while wandering alone up and down mountains. I discovered that the most difficult thing I will ever have to overcome is myself. I ate the shittiest, most delicious food without a thought (hello Snickers bars and honey buns!) and still came home 20 lbs lighter.
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| The view of the lake at Fontana Dam, as the snowstorm started to hit the Smokys. |
I have so many stories I want to share. I also have a new perspective on a lot of things. I'm going to share some of my experiences here, I suppose. It's as good a place as any.
I don't want to come off as some preachy asshole, though. I mean, really, how much can one person grow and learn in the course of just several weeks?
Each story deserves its own entry. So there's more about my trip to come, very soon. I miss the trail something awful, and I'm hoping that writing about my experiences there will cushion the blow of being forced to come home early. I can't fucking wait to get back out there.
I can't seem to break the habit of waking up with the sun, and once it gets dark I start yawning. So, for now, I'm going to go snuggle my furbabies and get some sleep. It's WAY past hiker midnight.
-L
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