Hike Like a Hobbit

To answer the first question most people have:  Where are you?  I am currently in Gatlinburg, TN.  I have completed 206.8 miles of the trail so far.  I am enjoying my first zero day (day with no hiking) at a cabin in Gatlinburg, where my dad is watching Peppy while I hike the Smoky Mountains since dogs aren't allowed.  It has been a wonderful blessing to have him come down and help out.  He has gotten into the spirit of the trail, being a "Trail Angel" by offering rides and sodas to other hikers.

Sunset from the top of Clingman's Dome, the highest point on the AT, just outside of Gatlinburg. From left: Marshmallow, Cool Whip, Little Bird.

Hiking is a relatively simple activity; merely put one foot in front of another and repeat, thousands of times a day.  When your only task for the day is to get up and walk, your day is pretty straight forward.  However to keep going all those miles, you have to keep your body fueled.  Hence my new motto:  "hike like a hobbit."

To make it to views like this, you have to eat a lot!

I have begun a daily routine of hiking like a hobbit by eating like a hobbit.  I wake up and have first breakfast.  Then while hiking I stop and have second breakfast.  Then a mid-morning snack.  Then I stop for luncheon.  There is afternoon tea and dinner before stopping to camp and have supper.  In the last week I have gone from eating like a little bird to eating like a hungry bird.  Dad was shocked to see me eat an entire foot-long subway in one sitting!

And now, the pictorial version of my trip so far:

Dad helping pack my first mail drops of food.

My first trail magic! A colleague of my mom's offered his cabin to us for the night near Amicalola Falls, the start of the trail.

Signing the register at Springer Mountain.  The register's are a way for hikers to communicate and keep in touch with one another, as well as providing amusing reading.

My first campsite.

Peppy is a celebrity on the trail.  Pretty much everyone loves him.  Often the first thing I hear when I hike up to another person is "Pepppyyyy!!"

Low Gap shelter.  There was a small city of hikers here.  This was just one of many tent groups around the shelter.

 

Special K, G'ma, Little Bird, and Shaggy at Hiawasse.

 

Crossing from GA to NC! Shaggy, Little Bird, Special K and her father Hollister.

 

100 miles! Andy, Clinker, and Little Bird.

 

Cooking dinner at Silers Bald Shelter.

Lunch at Wayah Bald.  I accidentally dropped the last bite of my oreo over the edge and watched it plummet 30 ft down.  It was tragic.

Hostel at Nantahala Outdoor Center. Peppy decided my clean laundry made a good bed.

Trail magic lunch after slack-packing 8 miles.  Awesome day!

Clinker having a snack on a fire tower in the Smokies.  Dropped my lens cap from here; I'm surprised it lasted that long.

Spence Field Shelter in the Smokies.

Chinese take-out at the top of Clingman's Dome after a 16.5 mile day.  My dad is the best!!

Sunset from Clingman's Dome.

Mile 200!  Little Bird, Cool Whip, and Marshmallow.

Enjoying the cabin. Thanks to my awesome grandparents!

While writing this post at the cabin.

Yep, hiking is awesome!