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

Day #0 was my travel day from St. Louis to Erwin Tennessee. I spent 9 1/2 hours in the car and arrived in the late afternoon. Gary Brady, who I hiked with last year, was here waiting for me. We are going to shuttle up the trail and hike over Roanoke Mountain on day one.

I’m at uncle Johnny’s tonight. It’s your typical hiker trash hostel; when you’re cold wet and hungry it’s a wonderful place.

I’ll spend the night wondering why the heck I’m here, but the mountains and rivers are beautiful.

To a young heart everything is fun.

Charles Dickens

As promised, I’m getting set up to do a video blog this hiking season. I’ve got a few videos on my YouTube channel now, so check it out at: Puffins Hike YouTube Channel

The first few videos talk about some memorable experiences in my first few years on the trail and there’s also information about my hammock set-up. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel if you want to keep track!

Oh, I forgot to mention that the first casualty of the hiking season has already happened. A thru hiker who started a week ago went missing on the AT approach trail in Amicalola State Park. His body was found Wednesday. The cause of death is not yet determined. Wow!

45 days until I’m back on the trail!

“After a day’s walk, everything has twice its usual value.” – G.M. Trevelyan