Day 21

After spending 2 zeros going stir crazy, it was good to get back on trail and push 11 miles from Winding Stair Gap to Wayah Bald Shelter. It was a great day! Temps stayed around 46-ish degrees and the skies stayed gray with no rain so it was pretty comfortable the entire time. My right foot is still giving me problems. I’m starting to wonder if the Superfeet Trail Blazer insoles were a good idea because I finish with pains in my arches. I have high arches so I thought they would be a good thing to have. The do help fill out the shoe well. The real pain I’m dealing with in my right foot is like a bruised bone or something. Very strange. It does start to feel better as I warm up and get the hike going but then it comes back pretty badly after the 8th or 9th mile. Anyway, enough worrying about that. It will toughen up. I’m still able to walk so that’s all that matters. Oh, I do have a confession to make. Today was the first day I fell. My foot caught a root sticking out and I went down hard. Let’s just say I left a forehead print in the dirt. Luckily the face plant was in dirt and not on a rock. Nothing hurt but my pride so I guess that’s a positive. I also noticed a lot of bear scat today. Most pretty old but one pile right on trail that looked really fresh. Let’s just say I made a lot of noise for a while just in case.

I passed a LOT of day hikers going southbound today. The funniest thing I heard was from two older ladies. One asked if I was thru-hiking when she saw I had a larger pack than just a day pack. After telling them yes, had small talk and moved on, I heard the other lady say, “I just don’t know. He didn’t look like a thru-hiker. He didn’t have a long scraggly beard.” ? Give me time lady. I just started a little over 2 weeks ago. The view from the stone tower at Wayah Bald was worth the hike today. That said, I’m glad to be in my tent and about to pass out. I have less than 11 miles planned for tomorrow to leave me less than 6 the following day to make it to the NOC. I am looking forward to a big burger, maybe resupply a meal or two and then try to get a private room with a shower or just move on and find a camp spot. I’m most excited to get the following 3 days over and arrive at Fontana Village. I’m hoping to get a room there and plan my next phase into the Smokies.