I left Carter gap shelter early this morning and headed on down the trail. The first 4 miles went by very quickly.

The highlight of the day was climbing Albert Mountain. The climb was steep with some technical areas, but it was rewarded with amazing views at the top and a fire tower. The top of the mountain marked 100 miles on the trail from Springer Mountain.

I ended up at Longbranch shelter for the night. I’m settled in the shelter to sleep. Tomorrow I head into Franklin North Carolina for shower, laundry, and some rest.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #15 (3/27/23)
Start - Carter Gap (93.5)
End - Long Branch (102.1)
Today's mileage: 8.6
Total section miles: 102.1
Section Avg:  7.9*
Total miles on AT: 1137.7
   * Zeros (2) not included

Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.

Thomas Edison

Smoky Bear picked us up this morning in Hiawassee and took us to Deep Gap to get back on trail. The hike up standing Indian mountain was amazing!. There were lots of switchbacks and the mile and a half went by very fast.

There were lots of stream crossings on the way to Carter Gap shelter, where I’m at tonight. Today’s hike was relatively easy and the time went by fast.

AT Thru-Hike Stats
Section Day #14 (3/26/23)
Start - Deep Gap (85.0)
End - Carter Gap Shltr (93.5)
Today's mileage: 8.5
Total section miles: 93.5
Section Avg:  7.8*
Total miles on AT: 1129.1
   * Zeros (2) not included

The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.

Michelangelo

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