Author Archives: Michael Waring

A zero today in Franklin. I resupplied, switched out some new gear from an outfitter, and lazed around digesting heavy starchy meals leavened with as many salads as I could find. The whole day it was overcast and occasionally spitting … Continue reading →

Start: Rock Gap Shelter Finish: Winding Stair Gap Miles: 3.8 Total Miles: 109.8 In the morning, I finished off the last of my breakfast comestibles, and packed up as quickly as I could. Of course, around nine the previous evening … Continue reading →

Start: Betty Gap Finish: Rock Gap Shelter Miles: 8.4 Total Miles: 106.0 Another milestone today. I made it past a hundred miles. I should probably have gotten a photo or a plaque or something to denote this momentous event, but … Continue reading →

Start: Standing Indian Shelter Finish: Betty Gap Mile: 11.3 Total Miles: 97.6 As predicted, a thunderstorm moved in just before dawn. It was pretty exciting, especially for someone from Colorado, where thunderstorms when you’re hiking are more likely to induce … Continue reading →

Start: Bly Gap Finish: Standing Indian Shelter Miles: 7.7 Total Miles: 86.3 Temperatures were under fifteen degrees this morning. Even though my bag is only rated for thirty degrees I was fairly comfortable, with a set of base layers, and … Continue reading →

Start: Dicks Creek Gap Finish: Bly Gap Miles: 9 Total Miles: 78.6 Back on the trail, again! I used the same shuttle as last time to get back out to Dicks Creek Gap and started climbing up around 8:30 am. … Continue reading →

Start: Hiawassee, GA Finish: Hiawassee, GA Miles: 0 Total Miles: 69.6 Another zero. I’d hoped I’d been making more progress at this point, but it is what it is. My body is definitely making its needs felt. I spent the … Continue reading →

Start: Tray Mountain Shelter Finish: Dicks Creek Gap Miles: 11 Total Miles: 69.6 Well, last night was pretty awful. First the rain set in early and continued through much of the night. No problem there, as I was in a … Continue reading →

Start: Unicoi Gap Finish: Tray Mountain Shelter Miles: 5.7 Total Miles: 58.6 Back on the trail after the better part of two days off. Started with climbs up and over two good sized mountains. Today, fortunately, a lot fewer rocks … Continue reading →