The storm last night was horrendous. There was no room in the shelter so Survey, Emily, Bright Spot, and I all slept on the ground underneath the awning of the shelter. The storm rolled in at 4 AM with roaring winds and driving rain. Our sleep systems all got completely soaked. After spending the morning trying to dry out at the shelter, we all decided to hike back to Deep Gap and get rescued from the trail for a night at a hotel to get dry. I’ll be back on trail tomorrow.

Thanks to Smoky Bear for rescuing us from the trail and convincing me not to quit.

Success seems to be connected to action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.

Conrad Hilton

Started hiking out of the stealth site at 8 AM this morning. Decided to try to hike all the way to Standing Indian Shelter 10 miles down the trail. There’s rain coming in the morning, so 12 of us are crammed into an 8 person shelter.

Made it into NC and an now done with GA!

Arrival at the shelter was delayed by a hiker feed at the last road crossing. I had some amazing wings and sliders for dinner.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #12 (3/24/23)
Start - Stealth Camp (76.0)
End - Standing Indian (85.9)
Today's mileage: 9.9
Total section miles: 85.9
Section Avg:  7.3
Total miles on AT: 1121.6

Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.

Socrates

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