Astrogirl

8.1 miles hiked.

This was a very easy hike for me, but very hard for the NOBOs. I’m going to buy a shower here and move along — everything here is expensive. I’ll get lunch on the road, and if I’m too tired to drive all the way home, I’ll at least get some [...]

14 miles hiked

Today was fairly challenging, but at least it was cool most of the day. The last 1500′ foot climb up to here was very hot when exposed to the sun. The contrast between that and the Rhodo tunnels was a big one — it was very nice in the shade. [...]

5.6 miles hiked SOBO from Fontana Dam

I hiked in here starting about 2:45 or so and arrived at 5:15. It was a long climb and it’s hot again.

Hikers here are Pierre, Audrey (Pippi), Pittsburgh and Back-Track. I’ve pitched my tent and the site is a bit tilty. I will probably [...]

16.3 miles hiked

It was rain or dense fog most of the day today, but at least it wasn’t hot!

I heard country music and smelled BBQ and brats all the way down into town. The music fest is at the campgound, and it’s right on the French Broad river.

Instead of staying here, I’m going to [...]

16.7 miles hiked

They have cabins and a lodge for hikers, but she didn’t really offer a cabin to me. I guess she assumed I wanted cheap. As that kind of accomodations go, the place is really nice. The setting is pretty too. There’s one other hiker (female) in the lodge with [...]

11.2 miles south of Sam’s Gap

I got rained on today and wound up skipping lunch. When I got here, it was pouring and I was very hungry so here I am at 11.2 miles for today.

The shelter is pretty full: C-Shot, Big Brother, Tree Work, Shadow, Me and one more are in there [...]

I couldn’t reach anyone on the pay phone at Uncle Johnny’s and my cell didn’t work anywhere. The whole town of Hot Springs is a cell dead zone for Cingular.

As it happens, nearly everything here is full. Certainly, the place I had hope to stay was (The Alpine Court). I stayed at [...]

16.9 miles hiked from Bald Mountain Shelter

Man, it was hot today. I started out at 8:30am (this is about the best I ever do in the morning), and I finished at 5pm, but I still used up 6 liters of water.

This morning it was OK. Sadly, it did not get below 60′ last [...]

7.6 miles (from Sam’s Gap)

I could have gone on to a campsite today, but this is a nice site and I wanted to stay here. Also, I thought the elevation (5500′) would make it cooler as it was HOT today (90).

Here with me are Red Arm, U-Turn and Tony Tiger. A trail angel [...]