Somewhere on the AT #6

#1 15.5 (5/20) #2 14.7(5/13) #3 14.6 (5/9) #4 12.6 (5/8) #5 11 (5/17) #6 10.7 (4/27). #7 10.6 (5/22). #8 10.1 (5/21)

Really missing my grandpa and it doesn’t help that I can’t see his grave around Memoral Day and our Birthday this year and have to wait till I get home from the AT. And it didn’t help that both 14 milers where on him.

Coming out of the Smokies with a broken pack was not fun. The main shoulder strap broke on me when I was a mile out from the last shelter, which is one big great fail. Thankfully there was a small group of hikers there, that I have been hiking around, helped me out with a field repair to hold me over the next 40ish miles to Hot Springs where I can pick up my new pack from the post office. After three days in Hot Springs I was ready to get back on the trail, there was alot of ups and downs.

The downs are more of mentally down and some frustration. The ups getting the next mile stone and highest mile day. On my biggest day it had started out on a good high note, fabulous weather trail was “easy” enough for me cranking out the miles. I figured that I’ll be getting in about 7.

Nope, I had figured wrong and it was going to be 8 before I get in and that was about 5:30ish when I realized it and that changes my whole mindset for rest of the day. Bright side I had gotten in 15 minutes before 8. And still have some good light before it got dark.

The Juicy Stuff: Elevation Gain: 18524. Elevation Loss: 19438. Steps: 276,796. Total miles: 102.4

Animals: Centipedes 11. Squirrels 3. Butterfly 21. Chipmunk 1. Deer 6. Bear Droppings 4. Rabbit 1