Today was definitely a success, albeit a slow one. The long steep downhill continued to take its toll on my legs. Despite my slow pace, I finished the hike back to Uncle Johnny’s.
AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #2 (10/9/25)
Start - Stealth Camp (353.9)
End - Uncle Johnny’s (344.5)
Today's mileage: 9.4
Total section miles: 20.3
Section Avg: 10.1
Total miles on AT: 1298.5
The secret to staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.
― Lucille Ball
I picked up where I left off a year and a half ago. I hiked the hurricane bypass and then over Unaka Mtn and Beauty Spot. Both downhills took their toll, but some Meloxicam and rest made it OK.
I found an awesome stealth site for the night. Didn’t eat dinner; I was too tired.
AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #1 (10/8/25)
Start - Iron Mtn Gap (364.8)
End - Stealth Camp (353.9)
Today's mileage: 10.9
Total section miles: 10.9
Section Avg: 10.9
Total miles on AT: 1289.1
Do not worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older it will avoid you.
― Joey Adams
I’m back at Uncle Johnny’s getting ready to hike again. I ended up not hiking in the summer because of the god-awful heat. So now it’s time to give it a go where I left off almost a year and a half ago. Twenty miles up the trail is where I got off trail due to injury. I’m shuttling up there tomorrow to hike SOBO back to Uncle Johnny’s.
A few months after I was here, Hurricane Helene ravaged the NC/TN mountains here. The Nolichucky River rose up over its banks and took out the bridge and Uncle Johnny’s. The hostel is rebuilt and open. Bridge reconstruction is funded and hopefully starting soon.
To update, here’s where I left off in March of 2024;
AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #2 (3/21/24)
Start - Clyde Smith Shelter (370.8)
End - Iron Mountain Gap (364.8)
Today's mileage: 6.0
Total section miles: 16.0
Section Avg: 8.0
Total miles on AT: 1278.2
I’ll keep everyone posted and my fingers crossed.
A stockbroker urged me to buy a stock that would triple its value every year. I told him, “At my age, I don’t even buy green bananas.” ― Claude Pepper
After a year off trail, it’s time to try again. Best I can figure out, my quadriceps injury sustained hiking down Roan Mtn last spring was precipitated by muscle loss/damage from a combination of muscle loss from a GLP-1 and muscle damage from a statin. I’ve been amazed at how long it’s taken to heal.
Ultimately, I’ll be hiking through CT, NY, NJ and into PA this July. But first, I’ll be going back to Erwin, TN at the end of April to hike the 84 miles between Erwin and Hampton. (It was a 16 mile section in here where I was injured.) This area of the trail in TN is where Helene hit the AT really hard. My goal is to go back to support the locals as well as witness the hurricane’s destruction. Oh yeah, and I’ll be in the bubble meeting thru-hikers!
“Some things don’t always work out the way you plan. The main thing is to keep trying, do better next time, and deal with disappointment if it comes.” – Yogi Berra
After a two day rest, I drove back to the trailhead with “Nothing“ and dropped him off to hike the 20 miles from uncle Johnny’s to the Iron Mountain trailhead. When I stepped out of the car, I wanted to put on my pack and join him for those last few days. However, the intense pain in my inner thighs continued just stepping out of the car. I needed more rest…
So now I’m home, and after about a week’s rest, I finally started retraining with walking and weight routines at the YMCA.
Puffin's Hike 