Mile 978

Mile 978

The last few weeks have been interesting. We have pretty much seen the last of what the south has in store. For the 1st time I actually feel like we have accomplished something when we reached 900 miles. It's hard to explain and surreal  when I think about 900 miles anywhere and we are not even half way done lolol. Coda will be going home for a month, the heat and miles are to much for her right now, and the heat is only going to get worse. We will be in Harpers Ferry , WV on wed. It feels good especially because the vision of me hiking the AT started when I visited Harpers Ferry last fall, and couldn't seem to get the thought out of my head. So I'm excited to actually walk through there this time with a pack on my back and the full beard I have earned as an AT thru hiker class of 2012.

Last week we aqua blazed through 50 miles of the Shenandoah's it's actually 80 trail miles if you choose to hike it, canoeing is a good way to break up the trip and give the legs a rest. It was fun we made a good choice. Hiking Virginia is 600 miles just in this state alone roughly one quarter of the entire trip. Virginia is a mental  beast, I have seen more people stray or quit due to injuries, financial strain or just sick and tired of hiking in Virginia, even some of the strongest of hikers are off the trail by now. Leif and I both feel fortunate to still be among the few still on track to finish in Maine by October. I have to give most of the credit to our family and friends even friends of family and friends .for their amazing support, we are just doing the walking but they are the ones keeping us here and driving ahead on schedule. In All we people ask me how we do it, I honestly don't know, I guess I just take it 5 miles at a time and that has lead to 978 miles traveled.

The heat this summer is exhausting, 5 miles feel like 10 with the sun and humidity bearing down on you. I can drink 5 liters of water while hiking and still manage to be on the brink of dehydration by the end of the day when we are finished. We welcome rain for the first time on the trip , but I have to admit no matter how hot it gets, I would tater sweat to death than freeze to death any day because in my mind, the cold is just demoralizing.
God speed to all those hikers left we are all out here sweating together.

~Nomad


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A must see! Joys of the Appalachian Trail....

You could live your whole life and never something like this! A must see!!

This is what happens when you walk 26 miles in one direction! Long Island Ice Tea Baby!

 (Taking a Pit-Stop)

Look Out Tower- Fontana Dam

We are ending our second week on the AT and we are finally starting to show our fitness levels with finishing this week with 100miles. Adam is definitely a stronger hiker than me ; I assume because he has lived in Colorado for the past year which enables him to climb like a freaking mountain goat, but I am slowly catching up and getting faster. Most of the soreness only lingers overnight then I'm strong again. We climbed a few tough mountains one of them embraced us with 8 miles of uphill, which Adam admitted was the hardest 8 miles of his life and I agree was hands down the hardest of mine. He even admitted he was sore after; which brought a smile to my face, because until that moment nothing seemed to affect him lol.

We are both surprised at the resilience of some hikers who are not on the fitness level of even myself , but they all drive on like warriors some slow; some faster.

This past week I can honestly say that on two occasions i was as cold as I have ever been in a sleeping bag, when the temp dipped below 30degrees, miserable isn't the word for it, coda was even shivering and she is made of fur! A funny thing happen early one morning, coda decided she was gonna chase after a deer. It took Adam every bit of 30 minutes to track her down, and when he did there she was disheveled , dirty her pack turned upside down and as happy as could be. Adam was pissed, but I felt bad for her being on punishment ; she only did what came natural when chasing after a four legged creature much like we humans chase after two legged ones - if u get what I'm saying lolol. She is strong much like her human it's really heart warming to see the two of them together. Now she is on a much needed down time at a kennel till we finish the Smokey Mountains

( dogs are not allowed at state parks) we will see her soon.
I have noticed that lately we get hungry fast, even after breakfast and then can't wait to eat dinner ( at which I may add I am a field chef!!! )

Now we are at the Fontana Dam shelter, considered the Hilton with thru hikers because it sleeps 24, and has a shower and picnic benches over looking the lake.

 (Adam)

We are on our way to Gatlingburg, TN on Wednesday and Thursday which will be a zero hiking day for us.

Many more miles to hike and it is definitely what you make of it ; just like life in general. Gods speed to all the soul searchers on the Trail
- Nomad

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We are in Gatlingburg, TN we have traveled 206 miles so far. We did are longest hike to date at 19miles yesterday, then another 11 to town. We are relaxing in a hotel for the next day, much needed rest since we were both at our limit today. We are officially in the Smoky Mountains! I have lost over 15 lbs so far and Adam about the same, we are pounding the protein to recover..
Stay tuned for great pictures !
-Nomad

Sent from my iPhone                (Pictures are above)