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Despite the happy sounding title, I was not feeling too well getting out of camp again. I think the tread on my Lone Peaks is starting to go. Well, that or they’re just too small. After all, at Outdoor 76, the guy there did say that my size was at least one too small. At least we only have a bit more to go until Gatlinburg…
At least this morning, we got treated to a Disney princess-like sight. Two deer wandered into camp! They seem to just be checking it out, but it’s cool to finally see larger animals on trail. I’m almost surprised I haven’t run into a deer, bear, or anything else in between.
A common through line in the Smokies has been dragging ass. Or at least, I feel like I’ve been super slow since yesterday. And I know it’s only a day, but it still kind of worries me. What’s causing this? Then I remembered, we’re decently high up. And while 5000 feet might be something to scoff at compared to the Colorado 14ers, pro athletes still have to constantly huff oxygen in Denver. So my theory holds some credence. Maybe.
Throughout the morning, I was leapfrogging with the Dutch boys and Richard throughout the morning. By Russell Field shelter though, I’d run out of water and motivation. The water was a simple fix. I’ve been trying to dial in how much water to carry throughout the day, but also working on not checking FarOut in the mornings. I thought I had enough, but I forgot to do my morning camel up. For motivation, while it might be harder to discern why at home, it’s a bit easier in the backcountry — I was hungry! I was running out of “breakfast-type” foods to eat in the morning, so I just had an oatmeal packet and some coffee to start my day. But that’s both not enough calories, and just carbs. Fast burning, but nothing sustainable. After a quick lunch of good ol tortillas, peanut butter, and salami (not necessarily all together as once), I felt like I could hike again. That, plus a 15 minute break.
It’s been interesting learning about break strategies from multiple people. Some only like frequent 5 minute breaks, preferring to hike slowly but steadily. Others, like Truck Stop, prefers to take less breaks, but take about 30 minute breaks to eat, drink, and meditate, allowing for some of the lactic acid to clear out, before starting down the trail. Each body’s different. All I can do is experiment.
Started the small, gradual climb to Spence Field, and ran into the rest of the crew staking their break at the Spence Field shelter, loading up on fuel for the climb to Kuwohi! (formerly known as Clingman’s Dome). I noticed immediately what felt like a completely different biome past Spence Field. While we found wildflowers just starting to bloom beforehand, up there you could see the rainforest really starting to take over. Moss was everywhere, and it just smelled… good! (at least, I think it’s an Appalachian Rainforest. Please let me know if I was in something different!)
I found the climb slow, gradual, and pleasant. I actually love climbs in general. The cardio I did beforehand (biking everywhere, running) really helps for the climbs (and not so much for the downhills). Another motivating factor was being the highest I’ve ever been on my own two feet! Kuwohi, infamously, is the highest point on the trail, and having mostly hiked on the East Coast, not much compares. Seeing the tower and the day hikers honestly was a bit of an overwhelming experience. Turns out this whole time, we’ve been in most high schools’ spring breaks! So there were tons of people on Kuwohi tower. They probably weren’t expecting a crew of smelly thru hikers to run through, but Righty, Lefty, Anne, Danielle, Michaela, Richard, and I all went up to check out the views with everyone else. After becoming so accustomed to seeing hiking machines, obsessed with every little detail of their hike, it’s hard to remember that it’s a leisure activity for the masses to enjoy as well!
Richard got into a conversation with a 1992 thru-hiker, who was getting emotional recounting his thru-hiking journey from beforehand. Crazy to see how 32 years later, the trail still impacted him. I’m so lucky to have a body that allows me to get this far on my own feet. It’s sometimes hard to remember that this whole thing is a privilege, not a roadblock.
Afterwards, I sprinted ahead of the group, since, well, I was starting to feel the calories pop up. Mt Collins shelter is a short .4 miles off trail, but the side trail was actually extremely pleasant. The campsite itself was again in the middle of a bunch of moss, and extremely pretty. It was also just nice to be off the ridgeline for a night, away from the wind non-stop! It was also my first experience with a Smokies Mountain privy. I didn’t realize they had to be ADA-compliant — apparently frustrations with that is the reason there aren’t any in Tennessee. Partially understandable though… I’m unsure how ADA-compliant the trails to the shelters are.
That night, I met both a fellow Trek blogger in Bubblewrap, and a guest member of To-Go’s blog posts in Poles. Bubblewrap’s been crushing some insane miles, in an attempt to wrap up both the AT and TransAmerica Trail in 6 months. Plus, wrapping up her triple crown. What a beast! Poles and I didn’t get to talk much, since he rolled up right when I was getting to bed. Still, it’s always fun to find people that I’ve read about in other bloggers’ posts. The trail is long, and we meet tons of people. You never know who’s around the next corner.
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