Sorry for the delayed posts. I had some minor technical difficulties (not a euphemism for an injury).

This is the day I hike UP to Chimney Rock, PA. It won’t be the biggest or most difficult climb of my trip, just the most altitude gain to date, approximately 1000 feet over less than a mile. So steep, but very doable.

I got an early start in the morning. I have a 10 mile day plus some steep uphill planned. Overall I am proud to say it went relatively smoothly.

I hiked the 2.6 miles to my first breaking point by 8am. I refilled my water bottle and took a break at Old Forge Park. They have a potable water source (out door faucet) that hikers are welcome to use. It is always nice to be able to refill your drinking water without having to filter it first!

One of my favorite things about hiking is the people you meet. They come from every walk of life and of all ages. I spent my break talking to a hiker named Which Way about flying and general aviation. He was a corporate pilot before retirement and we compared some of our more exciting flying experiences. Mine was the time Deepak shut the engine in the Mooney down due to a big black cloud of smoke coming out of the engine and the total silence except for the pounding of my heart when we landed. That silence was one of the scariest sounds ever. (Mind worm: is silence a sound, I will have to google that).

I continued my hike to some shelters at the start of the climb to Chimney Rock. I knew it was going to rain on me off and on throughout the day and that it would take me hours on the uphill and I had 3 and a half miles to walk after I reached Chimney Rock. So I decided to have an early lunch, camel up on water, and just take a moment before I started up the mountain.

All the shelters and the trail itself are maintained by volunteers. Every state the AT passes through has a volunteer organization that does trail and shelter maintenance. That means keeping the trail clear of fallen logs. Improving the trail to prevent or minimize washouts. Marking the trail. Adding trail signs and keeping the shelters in good repair, etc. Most of the shelters are miles from roads and all supplies to repair and maintain must be carried in by foot. The shelter area where I had my lunch had a hand carved vase made from a small log and in the vase was a beautiful red rose in full bloom. The entire area was spotless and well maintained, but that extra little touch really made my day.

An older gentleman was hiking by and he asked if it was my birthday (due to the rose). I explained I was just fueling up for the climb because I was slow and I knew it would be a long haul, I was going to relax and enjoy an early lunch before heading up. He said I persuaded him and he would do the same. His trail name was Rambler and he told me he was doing a thru hike to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his first thru hike. Apparently he fell in love with hiking and has hiked all over the world. From context clues I’m guessing he was in his lates 70’s or early 80’s. He started hiking last October in Georgia (southern AT terminus), took the winter off, and is heading for Katadhin by October so his hike will meet the official criteria of a thru hike (all 2197.4 miles in 12 calendar months). He made me feel like what I’m doing is very doable if you just keep at it.

So the climb. It was time to start. Heading uphill with a 30 pound pack (that might be lowballing because I refuse to weigh my pack because there is nothing in there I am willing to give up) on your back takes effort. Doing it over rain slicked rocks and tree roots is umm . . . HARD (no expletives because my mother reads this blog). I huffed and I puffed. I took breaks. I counted my steps. I chanted “I think I can! I think I can!” like the Little Engine That Could. I sang “You can do it! You can! You can! (IYKYK). All inside my head of course: 1) I don’t need people to actually see my crazy and 2) I didn’t have the breath to say anything out loud much less sing or chant!

In the end, I made it to the top about an hour sooner than I expected! Sadly no view due to clouds, but I made it! New hurdle cleared and on to the next!

So now the mad race across the next 3 and a half miles to the shelter. I say race because heavy rain and I were in a race to see who could reach the shelter first. It is supposed to be in the 40’s and rain all night. I really really want to get to the shelter before I get drenched. No more breaks. No more leisurely talks with other hikers, just go!

I’m happy to report that I made it to the shelter with minutes to spare!