North Carolina and 100 miles!

Silver Bald Shelter - Mile 113 - Mar 29_th, 2017

I hit two milestones this week: crossing the GA/NC border AND hit my 100 mile mark! Life is good! Oh and took my first zero day....

I thought the hike into the NC was tough. Once I crossed the border, I was greeted with a huge climb up to Couthouse Bald. A tall and windy trail with steep switchbacks just kicked my butt. Definitely my hardest day on the trail so far, but it felt good to cross a state off of my list. It feels like I'm making progress. I've been up and down a lot of mountains so far in NC and a lot of them shrouded with thick laurel and rhododendron forest. It's been rainy and foggy so it's almost like a rainforest right in the middle of southern Appalachia.

I'd been having some foot pain the past few days so I decided to zero in Franklin NC, which prides itself on being very hiker friendly and that is most certainly true. I stayed at Gooder Grove Hostel with Zen and Beast and they are THE nicest and most accommodating people. The hostel was basically a typical ranch style house turned hostel tucked away on the edge of town. I saw some people I hadn't seen in a few days and had a good time hanging out with guests and staff alike. Good vibes for sure and lots of doggos to play with! I had a private room with a few other girls and during our second night staying there, Zen (the owner) left a note on our door that a woman from NY called and wanted to buy a nights stay for deserving lady hikers! More trail magic! I am so appreciative and honestly blown away that so many people support the thru hiker community expecting nothing in return.

I got fitted for new trail runners to help with the foot pain and I'm hoping new kicks and a few easy days will help. I'm excited to reach the NOC on Friday to retrieve my first mail drop! I honestly forget what food I packed, and I will most likely kick down some to a hiker box. Eating on the trail is like trial and error - what you like and what's easy. I know I mailed copious amounts of Knorr pasta sides, but since I've been resupplying in town, I've been able to be a little more creative with my food and also have been able to make better choices as far as nutrition goes. I've been making a point to add more protein to my hiker diet because I keep hearing tales of muscle atrophy in the upper body and I am not cool with that!

Overall, the past two weeks have been pretty rad. It's hard to believe that this time next week I'll be trekking through the smokies! So many good things!

Aagain, I would like to thank everyone who's pledged! I am so grateful and it has been great motivation to keep hiking!

Much love,

Julebox