Appalachian Trail Hiking Blog

 As you can see by my picture below, we are both weary travelers, ready to get home.  This adventure was just the first segment of many future A.T. Hiking segments to come.  Who knows, we may even hike segments of the other big two trails in our travels….only the future knows.  Leaving GA, and beginning our summer with peace in our hearts and souls❤️

 Today we awoke to a heat advisory of 105-115 degrees, thankful to not be hiking today.  My aching knees make me thankful too.  I feel like I used to after running a marathon…..which I guess, is kinda what my cousin and I did. 62.5 miles of hiking over one of the top three toughest parts of the A.T. was an exhilarating test of endurance over 7 days. So thankful and proud to have my cousin by my side, she truly EMBRACED THE SUCK to do this journey with me. Today we chilled out, shopped at the local shops, and had a beer or two at a garden with music. We fly home tomorrow with mixed emotions.  Excited to get home to our loved ones, but sad that this incredible experience has to end for now.  Until we meet again A.T…… Still cousins, still proud of each other, still love each other.

 Today was our first full day in Helen Georgia or as the local’s call it Alpine Helen. It felt great to sleep in a real bed and air-conditioning last night. We got up this morning and found a taxi who took us to Valhalla resort up in the hills, and we Both had 60 minute Swedish massages at the Solasta spa, located within the resort.  It felt amazing, and my knees were very thankful.  We spent the rest of the afternoon pool side, which felt great in the 100+ degree weather today! After evening laundry, we ate at a local favorite, “Big Daddy’s Bar and Grill.”  We were greeted by some amazing southern hospitality, and could only eat half of the huge meals we ordered. Now back at our hotel, we were brain storming some of the crazy quotes we said on the AT…..I’ll list them below, see if you can figure out which one of us said it🤣 1. It’s a lovely day for a hike! 2. Don’t talk to me while we’re climbing uphill! 3.  I need my “own thoughts time” for a while. 4. BBLLFF...

 We woke up this morning near the top of Blue Mtn., the shelter was nice and only a few critters.  We started our 1 mile ascent to the top of Blue Mtn. with mixed emotions…..ready to be done, but such a feeling of accomplishment in our 7 days of hiking… the AT did not disappoint.  In the shuttle to Helen, GA now for a couple days of R-n-R.  We got to Unicoi gap in 2 hrs today, beautiful finish to our hike.   Our exit area from the AT Our last on trail shelter breakfast on the AT! Our hiking “Tramily” we traveled with for most of our 7 days. PM POST, Day 7 just off trail:  6/14/22: Our shuttle driver Bret dropped us off 9 miles east in a quaint German village of Helen, GA.  This little touristy mountain town will be our resting spot until we fly home Friday. After a BADLY needed hot shower and clean clothes, we walked to a cute outdoor grill/ bar called Betty’s, yummy food and bloody Mary’s!! Afternoon nap and icing of the knees today, plus a little loc...

 Post from day 5 pm last night since we had no cell service @ Low Gsp Shelter. On the map our hike was 11 miles, in mountain miles it was 13!!  13 miles in the Appalachian Mts. Is WAY different 13 miles hiking in wisco, trust me!!  Next trip training……hike with weighted pack, nothing but hills🤣 We were exhausted but exhilarated after our hike.  The shelter we stayed in WE SHARED WITH ABOUT 100 mice😫.  Needless to say very little sleep. …,.after 5 days, still cousins, still love each other! DAY #6 ON TRAIL POST: Today we left Liw Gap Shelter to hike 8 miles to Blue Mountain Shelter.  Super tough last 3 miles climbing over boulders.  We hit an exhaustion wall at mile 7, with 5 days behind us, doing a steep climb.  We pressed on and were  glad to be to our shelter by 2:45.  Tomorrow we hike over Blue Mtn., then down into Unicoi Gap, where we come off trail and head to Helen, GA for some R-N-R before we fly home on Friday.

 Happy 23rd anniversary today Tim❤️  Thinking of you while looking out over these beautiful Appalachian Mountains. Taking a break on top of a Mtn. Peek after a brutal uphill climb.  2 more days on trail, no amount of pictures  can describe the beauty we’ve seen. Look at the extra friend we found on trail today!

 What an amazing day today!  After a grueling 14 miler yesterday from Gooch mt. Shelter to Woods Hole Shelter, Our hike up and over blood Mountain today may only been 5.5 miles but it was straight up and straight down. We ended our day at Neeles gap, Mountain crossings which is a refuel store. We picked up the food we need for the next few days and even found a cabin to spend the night in with some of our Tramily, the people we’ve met along the way, and it’s a great reprieve to sleep in a real bed tonight and get a shower😜 The views from blood mountain were absolutely breathtaking, as well as the frozen tombstone pizza that we purchased for a late lunch at Mountain crossings. Can’t believe I’m admitting that I ate a frozen tombstone pizza but I’ve never tasted anything so good in my life. One conclusion that my cousin Kelly and I have come to after four days of hiking and three to go on the trail is that everyone we’ve come into contact with has been so kind and caring and en...

 Posting a blog form last night six 922 as we had no cell service at hawks shelter. Beautiful views nine very very challenging and rugged miles.  Today we hiked with my brother-in-law Shawn‘s mom Vickie on our minds, as Shawn lost his mom yesterday after a long illness. Vickie was a mom to the white siblings when we lost both our folks back in 2016 and we’ve always thought of her as our surrogate mother. 6/10/22—-left heart shelter this morning at about 7:45 AM, the goal today is to hike 12 miles to Woods Hole shelter which is literally about a mile from blood Mountain where we planned a hike up and over tomorrow. Not sure if my pictures can post on here with this poor service but I will try. I’m also try to post later tonight when we get to Woods Hole shelter. We are absolutely loving the Appalachian mountains in the Chattahoochee forest. Day #3 on Trail PM POST: Today we hiked 14 miles to the Blood Mtn. Forest…..absolutely exhausted but exhilarated!   Sleeping won’t be ...