Welcome back, everyone!!!
Before I begin my update, I would wholeheartedly like to thank every wonderful person who has reached out to me and written the most amazing and heartwarming messages – – whether they have been on this blog or the kindest text messages or emails…..I am so touched and truly fortunate to have you by my side, with your encouragement and support. You give me even more incentive and drive to continue this journey because I know we are doing it together. I find myself getting so excited to share my travels with you as I hike and take photos, noting all of the highlights that MUST be included in this blog!!!! So, again, thank you for being here and giving me even more reason to explore the AT and challenge myself to new heights!!
And now, time for an update!!
Georgia-North Carolina Border!!!!!!
After hiking 78.1 miles, over Georgia’s incredible and monstrous mountains, I crossed the border into North Carolina!!!!
Georgia – – – Check!!
One state down, potentially THIRTEEN to go…………..whoa, Nelly, let’s put that thought on hold for now because that is INTENSE!!!! Rather, let’s chat about the landscape and rain committee that welcomed us with open arms on our first day in North Carolina!
Now, Georgia made you work hard to get to the NC border, with more steep inclines, because that’s certainly what it does best!!! Following suit, after crossing the border, NC said “Greetings!” with a rain shower and a 1,000 foot climb to the Couthouse Bald summit, all within the first mile!!! Greetings, indeed!!! At least as we climbed, we also passed by this awesome and popular tree that is often photographed by the hikers and visitors in the area. And so I took a photo of the “old and twisty tree” as well!
Famous “old & twisty” tree!!
Starting the hike up Couthouse Bald
Up and up we climb!!!!
The view from Couthouse Bald!!
After our first five miles, Shambles, Ghost, and I hiked to our first shelter….oh, wait, excuse me, I mean a “sheeter”….!!!!! Pretty hilarious and oh so worthy of a pic, don’t you agree??????
A lil’ typo on the trail!!! 😆
Ahem…..a SHEETER 😁 called Muskrat Creek Shelter. Ghost, Shambles, about 10 other hikers, and I were there for lunch! Most were staying at that shelter for the rest of the day but Ghost, Shambles, and I wanted to continue to the very next shelter and make it about a ten mile day. They left about ten minutes before I did. And it just so happened that another hiker, named Chris, was leaving at the same time as me to do the same!
He was an amazing hiking buddy and we were chatting almost the whole time. Even as it started to DOWNPOUR when we still had FOUR miles to go. This was my very first experience hiking in a downpour and I’ve gotta say, I totally felt like a real hiker!!! And a drowned rat with squishy sneakers…🐭👟It was pretty nerve-racking, trying to move fast but not slip on the mud and rocks as you’re hearing thunder in the distance…hoping the lightning stays away!! Thankfully, we made it to the next shelter – – – soaked, of course, but in one piece!!!!
The 4-mile “downpour hike” to Standing Indian Shelter with Chris!
The “rainy mess” aftermath after the downpour!
STORY: SO, Michael had told me that I couldn’t call myself a hiker until after completing two full weeks of hiking the AT. Which I totally understand – – – I can’t go run a few miles, after never having run a day in my life, and then call myself a runner, right?? Or take one dance class with basically zero prior experience and call myself a dancer! It takes time, consistency, and practice to earn such titles.
So, if it takes fourteen days to call myself a hiker, then this “trudging through the rainstorm” day would be considered day #13 on the trail…Although Michael and I had taken a few zero days, of hiking no miles, when we were in town and then I took a zero day to get myself ready to hike solo. With that being said, I was still four days short of that two-week time frame to claim my “hiker status.”
HOWEVER, after hiking in a downpour and making it alive and well to the next shelter four miles away, through the mud and huge puddles and over so many slippery rocks and up and down a bunch of mud-soaked elevation changes……deep breath……..WELL, I’m totally calling myself a hiker after all of that!!!!!
Hooray!! I’m an official hiker!!!! 🤗
Pretty cool, right?? To go from never really having experience with hiking and the outdoors, to being an actual part of the hiking community! Like, becoming someone who kinda knows how to live in the woods, climb mountains, and who actually has a morning routine and a preference on how to stack the gear in her backpack! This “other world” is gradually becoming a known world….little by little! It truly is an amazing feeling to find that switch that takes you from something so new and totally uncomfortable to something within your comfort zone. I’m excited to morph into a natural hiker who is on autopilot but still enjoying every day and loving these experiences!!! Come on, trail legs!! 😊
Until next time, my wonderful readers! Keep shining and brightening the world by your radiant energy!!! (I can feel it from here!!! 💫)
