| Mile | 159.4 |
| Miles Since Last Update | 15.4 |
| Day | 17 |
A 16 mile day followed by a very uphill 7 mile day, followed by today being a 15 mile day. Not a lot to say other than that it was a slog. I had wanted to get a head start and beat some of the heat but when I woke up this morning at 430 my headlamp was dead. Probably got switched on in my pack at some point. Made it to cable gap by 430 (PM). Glad we did since it makes tomorrow much easier and one of the guys I know staying at the earlier shelter was giving some weird vibes. Very angry at influencers, the volunteers that maintain the trail, the trail itself somehow. It is nice to be a bit more isolated tonight but I am very very very tired.
Notyet said his ankle is killing him so he’s going off trail at Fontana for a bit. Originally we thought that meant we’d all walk the short hike to Fontana tomorrow and see him off but he decided to push thru as soon as we all got to the shelter. 20.4 miles on a bad ankle sounds rough, hoping he’s made it safe by now. Will probably find out tomorrow since there’s no signal here.
This does mean going into the smokies it will just be me and bladerunner. I’m wanting to stick to my “weenie hut jr” schedule of no days with more than 12 miles. He seems like he’s down. Pushing for the big miles was kind of Notyet’s thing, so good chance he catches us even with his recovery days.
5 miles tomorrow into Fontana. I booked a room after the hell that was today in hopes that I can crash hard tomorrow and be good for the smokies the next day. The lodge does not have very good reviews though. Nothing in Fontana does really.
Had to cross this construction site for some reason. The great outdoors
“Mt Possible”. Getting mocked by the trail now
Cable gap shelter is pretty busted (probably because most people skip it and go to the “Fontana Hilton”), doesn’t even have a log book, or bear cables