Let's see last time I updated it was about Beaver Rat so that was awhile ago. Well we hiked from Highawasee to NOC. Then from the NOC (which I will either buy a house there to live in during the summer or I am moving there) to Fontana Dam then we started the Smokys. It was a two day hike from NOC to Fontana Dam. Where we stayed at the Fontana "Hilton" shelter. Supposedly this is the nicest shelter on the trail hence the nickname of the Hilton. To be honest just seemed like an everyday typical shelter but could sleep 40 instead of 6-12. Fontana dam was really cool. It was massive. Took some cool pictures. Then we started to smokys expecting to finish it in about 5-6 days because we were meeting Goose's parents at I-10 to go into town for a half day. Well the start of the smokys were nice and it was cold. Freaking cold. Being from the South Mississippi I typically avoid all weather under 40 degrees. Well the Smokys decided that the high would be in the 40s for the 6 days we spent in it. The Smokys can be described in three very simple words. Up. Down. Repeat. If you were curious to where you were going just look for the highest peak. You were going over the center of that peak only to be surprised by a much larger peak on the other side that you were also going to go straight over and of course back down the other side just as fast as you came up it. For the first 3 days all the way to Clingmans dome it was cloudy, very very windy, and also very cold. Didn't really get to get any cool pictures until the last 3 days. We did get some snow which was kinda cool because I never really get to see snow. So anyway we made it clingmans dome only to be met by hurricane force winds. In all seriousness this wind pushed me across the tower on top of clingmans dome. It was crazy. On the way down from Clingmans dome to the next shelter we were hiking on ice down the trail. Well more of sliding the actual hiking which made for a lot of great laughs. If anyone knows Goose (JT) he's tends to be rather clumsy with his size 15 feet. So it was pretty funny watching him lose his balance. He only fell once though but it was a great fall. I was ahead of him sliding down the trail and I started to lose my balance, you know the whole arms flailing only one foot on the trail stance, Goose though this was funny and began to laugh at me. Well as soon as he started to laugh he lost his balance and just ate it. Karma at it's best. Anyway finally the weather cleared up and got to really see the beautiful Smokys. So day 6 rolled around and we only had 10 miles to I-10. We knew it was going to be a town day and our packs weighted next to nothing so we flew down the mountain. It took up 2 hours and 38 minutes including breaks to go the 10 miles. We were excited for some Taco Bell. So excited I actually ended up spending $16.54 at Taco Bell (sorry daddy). But on the way down the mountain we crossed this stream about 7 times. Well at first we both were very careful at where we stepped on the rocks instead of flying down the river so we didn't fall in. But I guess at one point Goose just got tired and decided he was going to 1 step the river. Oh man the funniest thing yet. Yeah he 1 stepped it alright. Right into the river. I was laughing so hard I nearly fell in myself. I took a picture of the spot so he wouldn't forget. So we met his parents went to taco bell, got a shower, slept in a real bed, and got to resupply at a Wal-Mart. CLUTCH.
Got back to the trail the next on our 4 night 5 day hike into Erwin, TN. We decieded to up the miles so we did a 19 then a 19-13-19-16. Pretty easy hiking for the most part until the morning of the 13. IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THE NEXT FEW LINES I WILL TYPE AGAIN IN ALL CAPS WHEN THE NASTINESS IS OVER. So the morning of the last 19 I woke up packed my stuff and went and took my morning poop like usual. Then to go get water. Well half way to getting water I felt a little rumble in my stomach and ran back to the privy (toilet) were I again pooped. I thought ehhhh must haven't gotten it all out the first time. So I went on the get my water. Well soon as I finished getting water it hit me again. So I ran back to the privy took care of my stuff. Kinda got worried then. Only thing to do at this point was to hike and hike really fast to town. Well small problem 2 days from town. So I went on about 3 miles stomach lit up again except this time it was from the mouth. Vomiting. Not good. So after puking once more and pooping who knows how many times I made it to the next shelter were I saw Goose. Only had 9 more miles to go to the shelter we were actually staying at. So on we went. Well we get about 2 miles away and we are on top of this bald in a cloud. Well this cloud decided that it was going to start raining and lighting. By the way if you ever get the chance to be in the cloud that makes lighting do it. Really cool to see it happen and also very scary at the same time. So sick, soaking wet, and freezing we make it to the shelter finally. I get to the shelter dry off and jump in the sleeping bag. Off to sleep I went for the night or so I thought. 9:45 boom vomit number 1. With in the next 7 hours I threw up 5 more times. It was great.... I couldn't hold anything down. So the next morning I got up hiked 6 miles which took me nearly 4 hours which is retarded long to Highway 19 were I then hitched into Erwin, TN. Went the the Urgent Care there got all doped up and feeling pretty good at the moment. OK PEOPLE WITH WEAK STOMACHS CAN START READING AGAIN. So we took a zero which would be today 3-17 Saturday and will be hiking an 18 tomorrow. Staying at Uncle Johnneys Hostel. Pretty cool place here.
So that's all for tonight. It's 18 minutes past hikers midnight and time for some shut eye.
Thanks to everyone for the support back home.
Stephanie Russum (my lovely girlfriend)
Eric and Tracey Waldron (dad and mom)
Emily Riggs, Brittney Ainsworth, and Bethany!!! (BFFL)
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