I left Hostel Around the Bend at 9:30 this morning with a large group heading back to the trail. The initial plan was to only hike 4 1/2 miles to the first shelter. The weather was so good and the miles went by easily, so I hiked another 2 miles along the trail to a stealth site near a spring. The North Carolina border is only 2 miles away!

I met lots of other hikers on the trail, including many that I have been with on and off for quite some time. I also met Hot Potato. He is just about finished with the southbound thru hike that he started last July with his father, “No Rush.”

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #11 (3/23/23)
Start - Dicks Creek Gap (69.2)
End - Stealth Camp (76.0)
Today's mileage:  6.8
Total section miles: 76.0
Section Avg:  6.9
Total miles on AT: 1111.7

If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.

Oscar Wilde

It rained last night, so staying in the shelter was a great idea.

It rained all day, so I arrived at around the bend hospital, soaking wet, ready for a shower and laundry. Resupply is done and I’ll be heading out on the trail again tomorrow.

I also slipped and fell in the mud on the trail. I broke a stage in my pack when I fell. One of the hikers found an aluminum pole in the hiker box that did the trick; it’s now fixed.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #10 (3/22/23)
Start - Deep Gap (65.6)
End - Dicks Creek Gap (69.2)
Today's mileage:  3.6
Total section miles: 69.2
Section Avg:  6.9
Total miles on AT: 1104.9

The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.

Socrates

I started out at the cheese factory this morning. I got an early start and climbed tray mountain, which was very pretty. The day ended with another climb up Kelly Knob. That climb was tough with all the miles behind.

Ended up at Deep Gap shelter for the night. I decided to try to sleep inside the shelter; we’ll see how that works. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #9 (3/21/23)
Start - Cheese Factory (56.2)
End - Deep Gap Shelter (65.6)
Today's mileage:  9.4
Total section miles: 65.6
Section Avg:  7.4
Total miles on AT: 1101.3

The best way out is always through.

Robert Frost

Today started out much warmer than I expected. The sun rose over BlueMountain shelter, and was really pretty. The wind had calm down, and it was not quite so cold.

The morning started out with the descent into a gap and then a huge climb up Rocky Mountain. The views up there were amazing. I called it a short day and stopped at an old cheese factory. I’m camped for the night. planning on doing 7 1/2 miles tomorrow.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #8 (3/20/23)
Start - Blue Mtn Shltr (50.1)
End - Cheese Factory (56.2)
Today's mileage:  6.2
Total section miles:  56.2
Section Avg:  7.0
Total miles on AT: 1091.9

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.

Oscar Wilde

It was a cold morning, leaving camp, but the hike initially at least was easy. It got much tougher during the day. There was all sorts of ice along the trail. I finally ended up at BlueMountain shelter for the night. It should be another cold one here.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #7 (3/19/23)
Start — Tesnatee Gap (37.3)
Start - Low Gap Shelter (42.8)
End - Blue Mtn Shelter (50.1)
Today's mileage:  7.4
Total section miles:  50.1
Section Avg:  7.2
Total miles on AT: 1085.7

Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.

Mark Twain