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| The planning process! |
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When I realized that it's been almost two years since I first started, and posted, on this blog, my first response was, "Where on earth does the time go? Has it really been two years since I created and posted something on this blog?" Well, the answer is that it sure looks like it! Since my first post, we've added to our mileage, jumping up from 130 to 178 miles, taking us from the Approach Trail at Amicalola Falls to just across Fontana Dam, to the southern boundary of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We began a hike from Winding Stair Gap, NC to Fontana Dam, NC as the usual team of three...
...but only spent one night on the trail before having to be evacuated the next day at Burningtown Gap, NC due to an injury.
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| Our campsite at Wine Springs! |
That being said, we were blessed to make it to the Wayah Bald Fire Tower while it was still in tact...
The tower was damaged in the fires that burnt thousands of acres in North Georgia and North Carolina. The tower still stands, just minus the enormous wooden roof.
In October of the same year, my sister and I headed back to finish the section and almost had to cancel due to bad weather and potential flooding. We postponed the hike one day and then were delivered safely to Burningtown Gap by the unstoppable Mr. Ron Brown...
We spent six of the hardest days we've ever spent out on the Appalachian Trail, climbing out of the NOC, traversing Jacob's Ladder, as well as miles of knee-breaking, downhill trail! It wasn't the same with out our brother, but when we finally dragged our exhausted bodies across Fontana Dam, we felt accomplished!
Our sights are now set on completing the first half of the Smoky Mountains in roughly 6 weeks, hopefully as a team of three! A lot may happen between now and then, but I can only keep my fingers crossed that we'll get it done! I hope it won't be as long before I have something to post on this site...it was my baby and I've certainly neglected it!
