Day 11 - Siler Bald Mileage: 14.6 (112.6 total) This place has to be by far the most beautiful camp area yet. Yes, its a .2 mile walk up a steep, bald hill. Yes, it took almost an hour to get water and walk back up the mountain, but I'm sitting atop a moutain that has a sign saying "EL. 5216 ft", watching the sunset in a 360 degree fashion. The Appalachian Mountains look amazing. The only sound I can hear is the jets of aircraft flying overhead. I won...

Day 10 - Big Spring Shelter mileage: 14.5 (98.0 miles total) Today was a test. When I got to the shelter last night, my right knee was really bothering me. The back of my left knee was b****y and strained from having to overcompensate and my freaking ass was chaffed from that damn soap. I slept well last night, but woke up really downtrodden that my knee was bothering me so soon. Well here's to the power of positive thought. I just took it real slow, had a hot ...

Day 9 - Standing Indian Shelter Mileage: 16.5 miles (83.5 Total) WELCOME TO NORTH CAROLINA! Today was a great day back on the trail. Even though my right knee is giving me trouble, the weather broke in our favor. It was snowing yesterday, today its in the 60's. Perfect day for hiking. We made good distance even though the mountain right after Bly Gap was ridiculous! I felt like the Ben & Jerry's Brownie Batter ice cream was really weighing me down. An...