Day 9

Fri. Sept. 5 Flint Mountain Shelter to Hogback Ridge Shelter 10 miles Weather: gorgeous I got up early to learn that hurricane Hanna wasn't really going to be affecting me much this weekend. Regardless, I figured I might go ahead and hike the 20 miles today instead of putting it off. So I get going pretty quick and reach Devil's Gap. I figured I was making pretty good time, so let's take a break. Then I started climbing, and figured I could take another break. Before I knew it, I was realizing that today was not my day to be hiking 20 miles. Maybe with no pack. So I took at least 4 breaks just climbing 3 miles up a mountain. And when I got to the top, I climbed up a tree and sat there for at least an hour with one heck of a view of the valley with I-26 at the bottom and Big Bald on to opposite mountain. I'll be there tomorrow afternoon. I accidentally left my phone on the whole time, so I messed up my battery provisioning schedule pretty bad. I got to camp and met a father and daughter hiking down to the Smokies. Before too long, were deep in conversation over a few shots of vodka. They have been by far the best company on the trail so far. The father is a raft guide and lives down in Gatlinburg, so I'm definitely going to be hitting him up next summer. At some point soon, I'll have to make it on back to Knoxville to invite the daughter on up. Anyways, tomorrow is going to be over 21 miles, so I better get to bed. High: new friends Low: over quarter-mile hike to the water from the shelter