My hiker hunger has officially set in. My blog might reflect food a lot this time around.
Two of my favroite people drove up to Franklin, NC during my zero day to keep me company and provide some encouraging words! We all slept in a motel in Franklin & hiked from Winding Stair to the top of Siler Bald together! Libby was Ooo-ing & Ah-ing the entire time (it was adorable), Justin seemed to love my hiking poles (being a quadropod) & they both seemed to really enjoy the foggy hike! We said goodbye and that night me & Noah made camp and successfully started a fire in the wet foggy conditions! The view when woke up with the mountain tops peaking through the fog was majestic! P.s. freeze died chicken gumbo is amazing! We ran into a trail angel that gave is bananas, fresh OJ & peanut butter cookies right before a 360 Panaramic viewing tower.
The next day we hiked and camped just past cold springs shelter, where we met a thruhiker from last year named Jellybean. He gave us some fresh fruit and soda which was greatly appreciated! we set up camp on an incredible rock outcrop (tent staked into just moss). Left the tent flap open to watch the sun set & the city lights turn on. I didn't want to leave the next morning! But we packed up to explore a beautiful bald, a fire tower and a steep climb down before it the sky opened. Slept in a shelter out of the rain in order to pick up a package at the NOC (as well as stuff our faces with sausage gravy & bacon biscuits and more). Also bought my first insoles.
Paperclip caught up to us after franklin and has become a daily staple.
Smoking Bear & Ms. Mary are wonderful people that are becoming regulars throughout this week. They leave hours before us but we seem to keep catching up.
The climb up to sassafras shelter kicked my ass. But the burn was so good! I did eat about two days worth of food in 7 miles. We pushed pass the shelter and enjoyed good company on cheoh bald, which was well worth it! Plus I got to eat the best Ramen ever. 1 Ramen packet, some fajita flavoring (98 cent package from kroger) & some taco seasoning wi th jalapeño pretzels on top, is the best!
Insoles apparently need broken in. I have 4 blisters on my feet. The climb down from cheoh was long and good. I swear the last 0.8 was well over 1.0. Shared good company with Hay & Patches as well as a god send named KC who gave me part of an everything bagel. P.s. freeze died beef stroganoff is good! So is the blueberry granola my grandma gave me is on point! MMMMmmmm!
Today I hiked 11 miles. Blisters have tripled. I ate a juicy medium rare burger and dry rub wings. Plus fries. Time to heal my feet, plus there's a bonfire roaring and it's time to be social.
Time for some rest on my blistered & swollen feet!
IG: @madelineire
Ciao!
Time for some rest on my blistered & swollen feet!
IG: @madelineire
Ciao!
